Original source:
WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING ...
- "Rapidly rising raw material costs putting extreme pressure on profits." (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)
- "Plastic resin product prices are climbing so fast that [suppliers] are attempting to increase prices on orders already accepted but not [yet] delivered." (Chemical Products)
- "Customers are rebuilding safety stock levels of inventory, and also trying to buy ahead of material price increases." (Plastics & Rubber Products)
- "Market continues to get stronger month over month. Recovery is faster than anticipated." (Transportation Equipment)
- "Pressure from offshore suppliers continues to mount with exchange rate increases and seasonal demand for capacity." (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE APRIL 2011 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Index | Series Index April | Series Index March | Percentage Point Change | Direction | Rate of Change | Trend* (Months) |
PMI | 60.4 | 61.2 | -0.8 | Growing | Slower | 21 |
New Orders | 61.7 | 63.3 | -1.6 | Growing | Slower | 22 |
Production | 63.8 | 69.0 | -5.2 | Growing | Slower | 23 |
Employment | 62.7 | 63.0 | -0.3 | Growing | Slower | 19 |
Supplier Deliveries | 60.2 | 63.1 | -2.9 | Slowing | Slower | 23 |
Inventories | 53.6 | 47.4 | +6.2 | Growing | From Contracting | 1 |
Customers' Inventories | 40.5 | 39.5 | +1.0 | Too Low | Slower | 25 |
Prices | 85.5 | 85.0 | +0.5 | Increasing | Faster | 22 |
Backlog of Orders | 61.0 | 52.5 | +8.5 | Growing | Faster | 4 |
Exports | 62.0 | 56.0 | +6.0 | Growing | Faster | 22 |
Imports | 55.5 | 56.5 | -1.0 | Growing | Slower | 20 |
OVERALL ECONOMY | Growing | Slower | 23 | |||
Manufacturing Sector | Growing | Slower | 21 |