MNI: US Data Forecast Focus: April ISM Mfg Index Seen At 55.3>

     WASHINGTON (MN) - The ISM manufacturing index is expected to be 

unchanged from the reading of 55.3 in March. Regional conditions data 

have been generally to the downside. 

     Analysts underestimated the March index after a large overestimate 

in the previous month. There has been a slight tilt toward overestimates 

in past April data, with high misses in each of the last four years. 

Forecast:                Nov-18  Dec-18  Jan-19  Feb-19  Mar-19  Apr-19

 Median                    57.4    58.0    54.1    55.5    54.6    55.3

 Range High                58.3    58.3    55.0    57.5    56.0    56.2

 Range Low                 56.7    56.5    53.8    53.0    53.3    54.7

Actual result              59.3    54.1    56.6    54.2    55.3    #N/A

 Median-Actual             -1.9     3.9    -2.5     1.3    -0.7    #N/A

Historical comparison:   Apr-13  Apr-14  Apr-15  Apr-16  Apr-17  Apr-18

 Median                    50.9    54.3    51.8    51.4    56.5    58.4

 Range High                52.0    55.0    54.0    52.0    57.0    59.5

 Range Low                 50.0    53.0    50.5    49.0    55.6    58.0

Actual result              50.7    54.9    51.5    50.8    54.8    57.3

 Median-Actual              0.2    -0.6     0.3     0.6     1.7     1.1

                          Nov-18  Dec-18  Jan-19  Feb-19  Mar-19  Apr-19

 MNI Chicago               63.5    63.8    56.7    64.7    58.7    52.6

 Phila. Fed Index          11.9     9.1    17.0    -4.1    13.7     8.5

 Empire State Index        21.4    11.5     3.9     8.8     3.7    10.1

 Richmond Fed Index          14      -8      -2      16      10       3

 Markit Mfg Index          55.3    53.8    54.9    53.0    52.4    52.4

--Kevin Kastner 202-371-2121; email:kkastner@mni-news.com

[TOPICS: MTABLE]