MNI: US Data Forecast Focus: May ISM Mfg Index Seen At 52.9>

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

slightly to a reading of 52.9 in May after an April decline. Regional 

conditions data have been mixed, while the flash Markit reading 

declined. The MNI Chicago index rose in the month. 

     Analysts overstimated the April index, even as a number of regional 

data pointed to a downturn. Misses in May have been mixed in direction 

over the last 10 years.

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

 Median                    58.0    54.1    55.5    54.6    55.3    52.9

 Range High                58.3    55.0    57.5    56.0    56.2    54.0

 Range Low                 56.5    53.8    53.0    53.3    54.7    51.7

Actual result              54.1    56.6    54.2    55.3    52.8    #N/A

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

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

 Median                    51.0    55.5    52.0    50.0    54.4    58.9

 Range High                53.0    56.4    52.7    51.4    55.6    60.0

 Range Low                 49.5    54.8    51.0    49.8    53.8    56.8

Actual result              49.0    55.4    52.8    51.3    54.9    58.7

 Median-Actual              2.0     0.1    -0.8    -1.3    -0.5     0.2

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

 MNI Chicago               63.8    56.7    64.7    58.7    52.6    54.2

 Phila. Fed Index           9.1    17.0    -4.1    13.7     8.5    16.6

 Empire State Index        11.5     3.9     8.8     3.7    10.1    17.8

 Richmond Fed Index          -8      -2      16      10       3       5

 Markit Mfg Index          53.8    54.9    53.0    52.4    52.6    50.6

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE]