1. Purchasing Managers’ Index September 3, 2012
PMI drops to 45.1 in August – a significant weakening of
the industrial economy
The PMI dropped from 50.6 in July to 45.1 in August, the lowest it has been since
the spring of 2009. This is an evident weakening of the industrial economy
compared with earlier in the year when the index fluctuated around the 50 mark,
which is the threshold between economic growth and contraction.
All of the component indices declined in August, indicating a broad-based decline in
the industrial economy. The greatest drop was in new orders, followed by
production. Companies adjusted their staffing levels in the face of lower demand,
causing the employment index to reach a new low for the year.
As a result of an uncertain global economy and shrinking order backlogs, a
preponderance of industrial companies expect production for the next six months to
be reduced or unchanged, which brought the index for production plans below the
50 mark.
The index for suppliers’ commodity and intermediate goods prices rose from 38.7 in
July to 41.5 in August, meaning that prices continued to decline, albeit at a slower
pace. Lower global commodity prices and a stronger krona contributed to low
upward pressure on prices from producers.
75
Purchasing Managers' Index
70 PMI
(Purchasing Managers’
65
Index)
60 Seasonally
adjusted
55
2012 Aug. 45.1
50
Jul. 50.6
Jun. 48.4
45 May 49.0
Apr. 50.2
40
Unadjusted
Mar. 50.2
Seasonally adjusted Feb. 50.3
35
Jan. 51.4
2011 Dec. 48.9
30
Nov. 47.6
25
Oct. 49.8
Sep. 48.1
94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 11 12
aug 48,7
jul 50,1
Next publication of Purchasing Managers’ Index: Monday, October 1, 2012
Jörgen Kennemar, Swedbank, Economic Research Department, +46 (0)8-5859 7730
Administration, +46 (0)8-5859 7740, ek.sekr@swedbank.se
Sebastian Bergfelt, Silf, +46 (0)73-944 6450, professionals@silf.se
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