By the NUMBERS
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the 32nd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 34th consecutive month, according to the Manufacturing Institute for Supply Management Report on Business.
4%
Amount the nation's manufacturing sector grew in 2011
Companies that do not adapt to the new global realities will become victims of those that do.
–Harvard Business Review
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE MARCH 2012
Index
New Orders Production Employment
Inventories
Customers' Inventories Prices
Backlog of Orders Exports Imports
Overall Economy Manufacturing Sector
Series Index March
54.5 58.3 56.1
50.0
44.5 61.0
52.5 54.0 53.5
Series Index
February 54.9 55.3 53.2
49.5
46.0 61.5
52.0 59.5 54.0
Percentage Point Change
-0.4 +3.0 +2.9
+0.5
-1.5 -0.5
+0.5 -5.5 -0.5
Direction Growing
Growing Growing
Unchanged Too Low
Increasing Growing Growing Growing
Growing Growing
Rate of
Change Slower Faster Faster From
Contracting Faster Slower
Faster Slower Slower
Faster Faster
Trend* (Months)
35 34 30
1
4 3
3 5 4
34 32
Source: Manufacturing ISM Report on Business 18 | INSIGHT on Manufacturing May 2012 www.insightonmfg.com
