Economy
February 1, 2018
ISM Manufacturing Index Down Slightly in January
Written by Sandy Williams
Manufacturing activity slipped slightly in January, according to the latest Report on Business from the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM Index edged downward to 59.1 percent from 59.3 percent in December, but remained higher than its average reading of 57.4 for 2017.
Indexes for new orders fell 2 points to 65.4 percent and production 0.7 points to 64.5 percent. Backlog of orders increased during the month. The employment index hit an eight-month low of 54.2 percent. Any reading above 50 indicates growth.
