Prices

In December, the ISM Prices Index registered 47.5%, indicating manufacturers are paying lower prices on average when compared to November. While 19% of respondents reported paying higher prices and 24 percent reported paying lower prices, 57% of supply executives reported paying the same prices as the preceding month. A Prices Index above 47.1 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Index of Manufacturers Prices. In December, five industries reported paying higher prices: Petroleum & Coal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; and Computer & Electronic Products.

Backlog of Orders

ISM''s Backlog of Orders Index registered 45%, indicating manufacturers'' backlogs in December are contracting for the fourth consecutive month. The index is 1.5 percentage points lower than the 46.5% reported in November. Of the 86% of respondents who reported their backlog of orders, 21% reported greater backlogs, 31% reported smaller backlogs, and 48 percent reported no change from November. The five industries reporting an increase in order backlogs in December are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Chemical Products.

New Export Orders

ISM''s New Export Orders Index registered 54.3 percent in December, a decrease of 2.6 percentage points when compared to November''s index of 56.9%. This is the 49th consecutive month of growth in export orders. The nine industries reporting growth in new export orders in December are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Transportation Equipment.

Imports

Imports of materials by manufacturers grew during December as the Imports Index registered 55.5 percent. The index is 1 percentage point lower when compared to November. This is the 60th consecutive month of growth in import orders. The nine industries reporting growth in import activity for December are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Furniture & Related Products; Chemical Products; and Machinery.


Available at:

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