Global| Aug 03 2017U.S. ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Declines Sharply; Prices Improve
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell to 53.9 during July from 57.4 in June. It was the lowest level for the index since August of last year. The Action Economics [...]
The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell to 53.9 during July from 57.4 in June. It was the lowest level for the index since August of last year. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected a slight decline to 57.0. The ISM data are diffusion indexes where readings above 50 indicate expansion.
Haver Analytics constructs a Composite Index using the nonmanufacturing ISM index and the ISM factory sector measure released Tuesday. This composite declined to 54.2 in July, its lowest level also since August. During the last ten years, there has been a 73% correlation between this index and the q/q change in real GDP.
Each of the nonmanufacturing index component series declined last month. The business activity index dropped to 55.9, also an eleven month low. The new orders reading dropped sharply as well to 55.1. The supplier delivery index eased to 51.0, indicating the quickest delivery speeds since February.
The employment measure declined to 53.6, the lowest level in three months. During the last ten years, there has been an 89% correlation between the ISM nonmanufacturing sector jobs index and the m/m change in private service plus construction sector payrolls. A greatly lessened 26% (NSA) of industries reported a rising jobs level while a moderately higher 14% indicated a decline.
The prices paid index increased to 55.7. That added to its June increase, but the index remained below its January high of 59.0. A stable 19% (NSA) of firms reported paying higher prices while a lessened four percent of firms reported them lower.
Amongst the other detail indexes, which are not seasonally adjusted, export orders fell m/m to 53.0 and was down sharply versus the 65.5 April high. The import index rose slightly m/m to 51.5, but remained down y/y. The order backlog index eased m/m, but remained up versus twelve months earlier.
The ISM figures are available in Haver's USECON database, with additional detail in the SURVEYS database. The expectations figure from Action Economics is in the AS1REPNA database.
Bridging the Gap: Forecasting Interest Rates with Macro Trends from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is available here.
| ISM Nonmanufacturing Survey (SA) | Jul | Jun | May | Jul'16 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite Diffusion Index | 53.9 | 57.4 | 56.9 | 54.9 | 54.9 | 57.1 | 56.2 |
| Business Activity | 55.9 | 60.8 | 60.7 | 58.9 | 58.0 | 60.8 | 59.6 |
| New Orders | 55.1 | 60.5 | 57.7 | 58.5 | 57.5 | 59.2 | 58.5 |
| Employment | 53.6 | 55.8 | 57.8 | 51.3 | 52.6 | 56.0 | 54.8 |
| Supplier Deliveries (NSA) | 51.0 | 52.5 | 51.5 | 51.0 | 51.5 | 52.5 | 51.8 |
| Prices Index | 55.7 | 52.1 | 49.2 | 52.3 | 52.7 | 50.6 | 56.7 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
More Economy in Brief
