MNI: US Data Forecast Focus: March ISM Mfg Index Seen At 59.5>

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

to a reading of 59.5 in March after rising modestly to 60.8 in February. 

Regional conditions data, including the MNI Chicago report, suggested 

growth slowed modestly, but remained fairly strong. 

     Analysts underestimated the headline ISM index in each of the last 

four months and six of the last 10 years in March, including the most 

recent two years, so there is a strong chance that the headline number 

will come in ahead of expectations again this month. 

Forecast:                Oct-17  Nov-17  Dec-17  Jan-18  Feb-18  Mar-18

 Median                    59.5    58.0    58.0    58.8    58.9    59.5

 Range High                61.0    58.7    60.3    60.0    59.3    63.6

 Range Low                 58.0    57.0    56.5    57.7    57.7    58.8

Actual result              58.7    58.2    59.7    59.1    60.8    #N/A

 Median-Actual              0.8    -0.2    -1.7    -0.3    -1.9    #N/A

Historical comparison:   Mar-12  Mar-13  Mar-14  Mar-15  Mar-16  Mar-17

 Median                    53.0    54.3    54.0    52.2    51.0    57.0

 Range High                54.0    56.5    55.0    54.5    51.5    61.0

 Range Low                 52.0    52.5    52.6    52.2    49.8    56.4

Actual result              53.4    51.3    53.7    51.5    51.8    57.2

 Median-Actual             -0.4     3.0     0.3     0.7    -0.8    -0.2

                         Oct-17  Nov-17  Dec-17  Jan-18  Feb-18  Mar-18

 MNI Chicago               65.4    65.6    67.8    65.7    61.9    57.4

 Phila. Fed Index          28.8    24.3    27.9    22.2    25.8    22.3

 Empire State Index        28.1    20.9    19.6    17.7    13.1    22.5

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE]