ISM® Report On Business®

Customers’ Inventories

Analysis by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M. , Chair of the Institute for Supply Management ® Manufacturing Business Survey Committee

ISM’s Customers’ Inventories Index registered 48.7 percent. The eight industries reporting customers’ inventories as too high in July are, in order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Primar y Metals.

The ISM Prices Index registered 42.6 percent. In July, two industries reported paying increased prices for raw materials: Petroleum & Coal Products; and Computer & Electronic Products.

Backlog of Orders

ISM’s Backlog of Orders Index registered 42.8 percent. The three industries reporting growth in order backlogs in July are: Furniture & Related Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Transportation Equipment.

New Export Orders

ISM’s New Export Orders Index registered 46.2 percent. Three industries reported growth in new export orders in July: Wood Products; Primary Metals; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components.

Imports

ISM’s Imports Index registered 49.6 percent. The five industries reporting an increase in import volumes in July are: Textile Mills; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing‡; and Machinery.