The Manufacturer and Distributor Indexes moved in opposite directions for the second straight month, according to the July ISA Economic Indicator Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association.
The ISA Manufacturer Index rose from 58.9% in May to 61.5% in June, while the Distributor Index decreased from 70.0% in May to 68.6% this month. For each index, a reading above 50% indicates expansion, while a reading below 50% indicates contraction. The Indexes have been above 50% since December 2012.
“While the ISA Manufacturer and Distributor Indexes have moved in different directions for two months in a row, both groups remain positive about the economy,” said Bryon Shafer, general manager of ASG Industrial and chair of ISA’s Strategic Information Committee. “The Anticipated Business conditions and Anticipated New Orders Index also moved in opposite directions in June. While manufacturers are more optimistic about the future than distributors, this month’s results show that the industry continues to expand.”
For the complete report, click here. For the press release in Word format, click here.
