TEMPE, AZ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the second consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 44th consecutive month, according to the latest ISM data.

The report, issued today, shows the PMI index of manufacturing rose 290 basis points over December to 53.1%, indicating expansion in manufacturing for the second consecutive month. New Orders rose 360 basis points to 53.3%, indicating growth in new orders.

"Manufacturing is starting out the year on a positive note, with all five of the PMI's component indexes — new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories — registering above 50 percent in January," said ISM spokesman Bradley J. Holcomb.

Two of the manufacturing industries reporting contraction in January were Computer & Electronic Products and Chemical Products.

 

MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE
JANUARY 2013


Index
Series
Index
Jan
Series
Index
Dec
Percentage
Point
Change


Direction
Rate
of
Change

Trend*
(Months)
PMI™ 53.1 50.2 +2.9 Growing Faster 2
New Orders 53.3 49.7 +3.6 Growing From Contracting 1
Production 53.6 52.6 +1.0 Growing Faster 5
Employment 54.0 51.9 +2.1 Growing Faster 40
Supplier Deliveries 53.6 53.7 -0.1 Slowing Slower 3
Inventories 51.0 43.0 +8.0 Growing From Contracting 1
Customers' Inventories 48.5 47.0 +1.5 Too Low Slower 14
Prices 56.5 55.5 +1.0 Increasing Faster 6
Backlog of Orders 47.5 48.5 -1.0 Contracting Faster 10
Exports 50.5 51.5 -1.0 Growing Slower 2
Imports 50.0 51.5 -1.5 Unchanged From Growing 1
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Faster 44
Manufacturing Sector Growing Faster 2

*Number of months moving in current direction
Indexes reflect newly released seasonal adjustment factors.

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