1. Purchasing Managers’ Index May 2, 2012
PMI remains unchanged at 50.2 in April – the industrial
economy lacks momentum
The PMI remained at 50.2 in April, not budging from its March level. The index thus
continues to hover near the 50 mark, which indicates that the industrial economy is
neither growing nor contracting.
The production index made the most significant positive contribution to the PMI,
though the index for new orders also rose, primarily due to an increase in new
orders from the export market. The index for supplier delivery times remained
unchanged, but the level of this index indicates a degree of contraction.
The component index for employment dropped as companies’ appetite for hiring
appears to have waned. Companies continued to scale down production plans for
the next six months, though the corresponding component index remains in the
growth zone.
The index for commodity and intermediate goods prices dropped by just over three
points to 52.3. This decrease indicates lower cost pressures in manufacturing,
though the index is still higher than it was last fall.
75
Purchasing Managers' Index
70 PMI
(Purchasing Managers’
65
Index)
Seasonally Adjusted
60
2012 Apr. 50.2
55 Mar. 50.2
Feb. 50.3
50 Jan. 51.4
2011 Dec. 48.9
45 Nov. 47.6
Oct. 49.8
40
Unadjusted
Sep. 48.1
Seasonally adjusted Aug. 48.7
35 Jul. 50.1
Jun. 52.9
30 May 56.1
Apr. 59.8
25
94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 11 12
Next publication of Purchasing Managers’ Index: Friday, June 1, 2012
Magnus Alvesson, Swedbank, Economic Research Department, +46 (0)8-5859 3340
Administration, +46 (0)8-5859 7740, ek.sekr@swedbank.se
Sebastian Bergfelt, Silf, +46 (0)73-944 6450, professionals@silf.se
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