Manufacturing Watch: Index Reflects Slump in Activity

We’ve seen a trend recently indicating a slowdown in manufacturing activity. In a recent report, The Private Bank reported that an index of U.S. manufacturing activity slumped to a three-month low this month with respondents citing soft international markets as the primary culprit. Markit Economics’ preliminary index of U.S. manufacturing decreased to a three-month low of 54.2 in April from a prior reading of 55.7. New orders declined, and a gauge of factory production dropped to a four-month low. “Key to the slowdown was a weakening of export orders, in turn a symptom of the loss of competitiveness arising from the dollar’s strength,” said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson. “However, while exporters are suffering, domestic demand looks to have remained robust, helping to sustain a reasonably strong production trend.”

A three-month trend doesn’t mean too much all unto itself, but ongoing trends bear review and analysis. We’ll continue to monitor U.S. Manufacturing activity, as well as the activity in our regional markets.

You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours

The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

© 2024 Schneider Downs. All rights-reserved. All content on this site is property of Schneider Downs unless otherwise noted and should not be used without written permission.

our thoughts on
Survey on Career Advancement and Women in the Manufacturing Sector
Technology Enhancements Continue to Infuse the Manufacturing World
Protect Your Manufacturers: 3 Common Cyber Attack Methods to Watch Out for in 2023
How To Identify Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Changes to R&D Expense Rules Affecting Manufacturers
United States Deals with Baby Formula Shortage
Register to receive our weekly newsletter with our most recent columns and insights.
Have a question? Ask us!

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note, and we’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.

Ask us
contact us
Pittsburgh

This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. Cookies assist in navigation, analyzing traffic and in our marketing efforts as described in our Privacy Policy.

×