ISM's manufacturing sample is reporting the weakest conditions since July 2009. Yet the story, nevertheless, is much the same as it was in November which came in at 48.6 with both months showing slight contraction underway for both new orders and production. Employment in the sample, however, is noticeably weaker than November, at 48.1 for a more than 2 point decline and the second sub-50 reading in the last three months. A sizable 4.5 point rise for new export orders to 51.0 is a positive in the report. Inventories are steady and low but the sample still say inventories are a little bit high which betrays caution in their outlook. Prices for raw materials continue to contract, a reminder that low oil and commodity prices are making it difficult for the Fed to reach its 2 percent inflation target. This report points to ever softer conditions for a sector that, held down by energy and weak foreign demand, showed very little life during 2015.
Hanover Advisors Inc. issued this content on 2016-01-04 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-04 17:52:51 UTC
Original Document: http://www.hanoveradvisorsinc.com/inside-the-latest-ism-index
