 | The ISM Manufacturing Index Increased to 50.9 in June |
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| Posted Under: Data Watch • ISM |
Implications: The ISM index, a measure of manufacturing sentiment around the country, rebounded from last month's drop, beat consensus expectations, and moved back into territory signaling expansion in the factory sector. The overall index rose to 50.9. The best news in today's report was the gain in the new orders index to 51.9, suggesting faster growth ahead. According to the Institute for Supply Management, an index level of 50.2, which was the average for the second quarter, is consistent with real GDP growth of 2.5% annually. We think other data signal a real GDP growth rate very close to that figure. The weakest part of today's report was for employment; that index declined to 48.7, suggesting another decline in manufacturing payrolls in June. Oddly, this is the second month in a row where the national ISM moved in the opposite direction as the Chicago PMI. Usually these two measures move in the same direction. The gap may be due to a transition in which sectors are performing the best. For example, furniture manufactures reported the strongest growth in June while transportation equipment makers were among the slowest growers. Sales for autos are already close to where they should be based on fundamentals (the driving-age population and scrappage), and we had been anticipating a transition by consumers toward slower growth in auto sales and faster growth in other sectors. On the inflation front, the prices paid index increased to 52.5 in June from 49.5 in May. Given loose monetary policy, we expect these inflation readings to remain above 50. In other news this morning, construction increased 0.5% in May, almost exactly what the consensus expected. The gain in May was due rising state & local construction (particularly transportation hubs and water supply) as well as home building; commercial construction declined in May (particularly manufacturing plants and communications facilities). Overall, today's data are certainly no justification for euphoria, but aren't a reason to panic either. What we have here is more data consistent with the Plow Horse economy.
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