MNI DATA IMPACT: ISM Manufacturing PMI Still in Contraction

--October ISM Manufacturing PMI Up 0.5 Points At 48.3

By Irene Prihoda

     LONDON (MNI) - The ISM Manufacturing PMI edged higher in October, although

the index remains below the 50-mark for a third consecutive month, data released

Friday showed.

     The main points of note from the release include:

     - After reaching the lowest level since June 2009 in September, the ISM

Manufacturing PMI picked up 0.5 points, although falling short of market

expectations looking for an increase to 49.0.

     - Among the main five indexes, Inventories (up 2pt to 48.9), New Orders (up

1.8pt to 49.1) and Employment (up 1.4pt to 47.7) showed a monthly increase,

while Supplier Deliveries (down 1.6pt to 49.5) and Production (down 1.1pt to

46.2) held further improvements back.

     - The Prices index recorded the largest monthly decline in October,

dropping by 4.2 points to 45.5 and reaching the lowest level since July. On the

other hand, New Export Orders showed the biggest uptick in the current month

with the index rising by 9.4 points to 50.4.

     - Meanwhile, Imports plummeted to 45.3, the lowest level since May 2009.

     - However, all indexes compiled within the survey registered below the

50-no-change threshold in October with the exception of New Export Orders, which

came in only a touch above the 50-mark.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 0203 865 3814; email: irene.prihoda@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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