The September 2009 Manufacturing ISM report, although still showing some growth, declined for the month. The PMI registered 52.6 percent in September, which is 0.3 percentage point lower than the 52.9 percent reported in August. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting. However, given that macroeconomic numbers can not measure precise economic activity, the current PMI is best viewed as flat.
Other numbers were more sluggish, the ISM's Production Index registered 55.7 percent in September, this is a decrease of 6.2 percentage points from the August reading of 61.9 percent, and the ISM's New Orders Index registered 60.8 percent in September, 4.1 percentage points lower than the 64.9 percent registered in August.
Overall, it was a sluggish to flat August for manufacturers.
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