Georgia manufacturing index falls to lowest level since January
PMI drops 3.3 points as new orders and production decline
KENNESAW, Ga. (Nov. 1, 2010) …
Georgia
(Nov 2, 2010) — PMI drops 3.3 points as new orders and production decline
KENNESAW, Ga. (Nov. 1, 2010) — Manufacturing activity in Georgia fell for the third consecutive month in October,
according to the Econometric Center at Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of
Business.
Georgia’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) — a reading of economic activity in the
state’s manufacturing sector — for October was 50.3, down 3.3 points from the previous
month’s level of 53.6. The latest reading is the lowest since January, when it stood
at 46.1, and is 5.9 points below the PMI’s six-month average.
“The latest numbers are consistent with the gradual slowdown in manufacturing activity
that started in June,” said Don Sabbarese, professor of economics and director of
the Econometric Center at the Coles College of Business. “Contraction in commercial
and residential construction and the slow rebound in economic activity are contributing
to the PMI’s slowdown.”
Some 21 percent of survey respondents said they expected higher production in the
next three to six months, compared with 27 percent of respondents expecting lower
production, said Sabbarese.
Hiring experienced an increase of 3.7 points, to 51.7. All of the PMI’s underlying
variables, except for finished inventory, were below their six-month averages.
Highlights of the October PMI include:
- New orders were down by 5.4 points, to 46.6
- Production declined 3.7 points, to 48.3
- Commodity prices increased 5.8 points, to 63.8, the first increase in three months
- Finished inventory declined 3.7 points, to 48.3
- Supplier delivery time decreased 7.1 points, to 56.9. This decrease is consistent
with the drop in new orders and production
The Georgia PMI provides a snapshot of manufacturing activity in the state, just as
the monthly PMI released by the Institute for Supply Management provides a picture
of national manufacturing activity. A PMI reading above 50 indicates that manufacturing
activity is expanding; a reading below 50 indicates it is contracting. The national
PMI for October was 56.9, up 2.5 points from September.
The Georgia PMI reading is a composite of five variables — new orders, production,
employment, supply deliveries and finished inventory. A sixth variable, commodity
prices, is compiled by the Coles College’s Econometric Center but does not go into
the PMI calculation.
The PMI, compiled from a monthly survey of manufacturers, is the earliest indicator
of market conditions in the sector. Since manufacturing –– which accounts for 11 percent
of GDP –– is sensitive to changes in the economy, it can also reveal changing macroeconomic
trends.
The PMI’s value is in its timeliness and sensitivity to variables such as interest
rates, global markets and other economic changes. The Georgia PMI provides valuable
data used by institutions such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to assist in
their analysis of current economic conditions, along with many other data sources,
to get a picture of economic activity.
For a full report of the October PMI, or to speak with professor Sabbarese, please
call 770-423-6094.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
