Production level, new orders, employment level and inventories grew at a faster rate while supplier delivery time grew at a slower rate in April 2019
The Manufacturing PMI in the month of April stood at 57.7 index points, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the twenty-fifth consecutive month. The index grew at a faster rate when compared to the index in the previous month.
Twelve of the 14 subsectors surveyed reported growth in the review month in the following order: electrical equipment; plastics & rubber products; cement; petroleum & coal products; transportation equipment; food, beverage & tobacco products; nonmetallic mineral products; chemical & pharmaceutical products; furniture & related products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; printing & related support activities and fabricated metal products. The paper products and primary metal subsectors recorded decline in the review period.
Production Level
At 58.8 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the twenty-sixth consecutive month in April 2019. The index indicated a faster growth in the current month when compared to its level in the month of March 2019. Eleven of the 14 manufacturing subsectors recorded an increased production level, while 3 recorded decline.
New Orders
At 57.2 points, the new orders index grew for the twenty-fifth consecutive month, indicating an increase in new orders in April 2019. Ten subsectors reported growth, while 4 contracted in the review month.
Supplier Delivery Time
The manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 58.1 points in April 2019, indicating slower supplier delivery time. The index has recorded growth for twenty-three consecutive months. Eleven of the 14 subsectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, while 1 remained unchanged and 2 recorded declines in the review period
Employment Level
The employment level index for April 2019 stood at 57.0 points, indicating growth in employment level for the twenty-fourth consecutive month. Of the 14 subsectors, 11 reported increased employment level, 1 reported unchanged employment level while 2 reported decreased employment in the review month
Raw material Inventories
The Manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the twenty-fifth consecutive month in April 2019. At 57.5 points, the index grew at a faster rate when compared to its level in March 2019. Nine of the 14 subsectors recorded growth, 2 remain unchanged, while 3 sectors reported declined raw material inventories in the review
month.
