MNI:US Data Forecast Focus:December ISM Mfg Index Seen At 58.0

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The ISM manufacturing index is expected to hold steady

at 58.2 in December, down from the levels seen in September and October, but

still indicating strength. Most of the regional conditions data suggest growth

accelerated, but there was some regional declines that provide some downside

risk.

     Analysts slightly underestimated the headline ISM index in November after

an overestimate in October. Recent December data have been evenly split between

underestimates and overestimates.

Forecast:                 Jul-17  Aug-17  Sep-17  Oct-17  Nov-17  Dec-17

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Median                      56.3    56.6    58.0    59.5    58.0    58.0

Range High                  57.5    56.0    59.0    61.0    58.7    60.3

Range Low                   55.0    57.5    57.0    58.0    57.0    56.5

Actual result               56.3    58.8    60.8    58.7    58.2    #N/A

vs median forecast           0.0    -2.2    -2.8     0.8    -0.2    #N/A

Historical comparison:    Dec-11  Dec-12  Dec-13  Dec-14  Dec-15  Dec-16

Median                      53.5    50.2    57.0    57.7    49.1    53.5

Range High                  54.0    52.0    58.0    58.1    49.6    54.7

Range Low                   53.0    49.2    54.5    56.3    48.8    53.0

Actual result               53.9    50.7    57.0    55.5    48.2    54.7

vs median forecast          -0.4    -0.5     0.0     2.2     0.9    -1.2

                          Jul-17  Aug-17  Sep-17  Oct-17  Nov-17  Dec-17

MNI Chicago                 58.9    58.9    65.2    66.2    63.9    67.6

Phila. Fed Index            19.5    18.9    23.8    27.9    22.7    26.2

Empire State Index           9.8    25.2    24.4    30.2    19.4    18.0

--MNI Washington Bureau; tel: +1 202-371-2121; email: kevin.kastner@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MTABLE,M$U$$$]