ISM’s New Orders Index registered 33.2 percent in January, 10.1 percentage points higher than the 23.1 percent registered in December (seasonally adjusted). This is the 14th consecutive month of contraction in the New Orders Index. A New Orders Index above 48.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau’s series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

In January, two of the 18 manufacturing industries reported growth in new orders: Textile Mills; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The industries failing to grow in January are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Wood Products; Transportation Equipment; Primary Metals; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Chemical Products; Furniture & Related Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Machinery.