MNI: US Data Forecast Focus: May ISM Mfg Index Seen At 58.9>

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

rebound       modestly to a reading of 58.9 in May after declining 

further to 57.3 in April. Regional conditions data have pointed 

overwhelmingly to improved conditions. 

     Analysts overestimated the headline ISM index in April, a second 

straight surprise to the low side. There have been underestimates in May 

in each of the last three years, so there is a risk of miss to the low 

side this month. 

Forecast:                Dec-17  Jan-18  Feb-18  Mar-18  Apr-18  May-18

 Median                    58.0    58.8    58.9    59.5    58.4    58.9

 Range High                60.3    60.0    59.3    63.6    59.5    60.0

 Range Low                 56.5    57.7    57.7    58.8    58.0    56.8

Actual result              59.7    59.1    60.8    59.3    57.3    #N/A

 Median-Actual             -1.7    -0.3    -1.9     0.2     1.1    #N/A

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

 Median                    54.0    51.0    55.5    52.0    50.0    54.4

 Range High                55.0    53.0    56.4    52.7    51.4    55.6

 Range Low                 52.3    49.5    54.8    51.0    49.8    53.8

Actual result              53.5    49.0    55.4    52.8    51.3    54.9

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

                         Dec-17  Jan-18  Feb-18  Mar-18  Apr-18  May-18

 MNI Chicago               67.8    65.7    61.9    57.4    57.6    62.7

 Phila. Fed Index          27.9    22.2    25.8    22.3    23.2    34.4

 Empire State Index        19.6    17.7    13.1    22.5    15.8    20.1

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE]