Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Manufacturing Slowdown?

The Lehmann Letter (SM)
  
Yesterday’s report from the Institute of Supply Management that its June Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dipped below 50% is cause for concern:


Any reading below 50% is a sign of manufacturing contraction, and June’s 49.7% interrupts an expansionary trend. Let’s hope it was a fluke.

Purchasing Managers’ Index

(Click on chart to enlarge)




(Recessions shaded)

But there have been too many signs of softness to remain complacent.

We’ll see.

(To be fully informed visit http://www.beyourowneconomist.com/)

© 2012 Michael B. Lehmann


No comments: