ISM’s Production Index registered 66.9 percent in April, which is an increase of 5.8 percentage points from the March reading of 61.1 percent. An index above 51 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production figures. This is the 11th consecutive month the Production Index has registered above 50 percent.
The 15 industries reporting growth in production during the month of April — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. There were no industries reporting a decrease in production in April.
Production | %Better | %Same | %Worse | Net | Index | |||||||||||||||||||||
Apr 2010 | 49 | 44 | 7 | +42 | 66.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Mar 2010 | 36 | 53 | 11 | +25 | 61.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Feb 2010 | 32 | 54 | 14 | +18 | 58.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Jan 2010 | 38 | 51 | 11 | +27 | 66.2 |