Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - US Manufacturing Up Again in November

TEMPE, AZ -- US manufacturing activity expanded in November for the 28th consecutive month, a monthly survey of supply executives revealed today.

The PMI index of manufacturing activity was 52.7%, up 1.9 percentage points from October. New Orders increased 4.3 percentage points to 56.7%, the second straight month of growth after three months of contraction. A reading above 50% indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

The report was issued today by the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing.

Prices rose relative to October but remained on a deflationary slide as the Prices Index came in at 45%, five points below the 50% indicating overall inflation. Commodities that rose in price included copper and electronic components.

"Respondents cite continuing concerns about the general economic environment, government regulations and European financial conditions, but are cautiously more optimistic about the next few months based on lower raw materials pricing and favorable levels of new orders," said ISM spokesperson Bradley J. Holcomb.

Computer & Electronic Products was among the eight manufacturing industries reporting growth in November.

The overall economy grew for the 30th consecutive month in November.

MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE NOVEMBER 2011

Index	Series Index Nov	Series Index Oct	Percentage Point Change	Direction	Rate of Change	Trend(a) (Months)

PMI	52.7	50.8	+1.9	Growing	Faster	28
New Orders	56.7	52.4	+4.3	Growing	Faster	2
Production	56.6	50.1	+6.5	Growing	Faster	3
Employment	51.8	53.5	-1.7	Growing	Slower	26
Supplier Deliveries	49.9	51.3	-1.4	Faster	From Slowing	1
Inventories	48.3	46.7	+1.6	Contracting	Slower	2
Customers’ Inventories	50.0	43.5	+6.5	Unchanged	From Too Low	1
Prices	45.0	41.0	+4.0	Decreasing	Slower	2
Backlog of Orders	45.0	47.5	-2.5	Contracting	Faster	6
Exports	52.0	50.0	+2.0	Growing	From Unchanged	1
Imports	49.0	49.5	-0.5	Contracting	Faster	2
OVERALL ECONOMY Manufacturing Sector				Growing	Faster	30
OVERALL ECONOMY Manufacturing Sector				Growing	Faster	28