To: Lee who wrote (30808 ) 3/3/2000 12:52:00 PM From: Lee Read Replies (1) | Respond to
Economic Data for Friday, March 3, 2000Factory Orders for Jan. = -1.1% census.gov New orders for manufactured goods in January decreased $4.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $375.2 billion, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census reported today. This follows a 3.8 percent December increase. Shipments increased $3.8 billion or 1.0 percent to $371.7 billion, following a 0.8 percent December increase. This is the eighth increase in the last nine months. Unfilled orders increased $3.5 billion or 0.7 percent to $541.8 billion, following a 2.2 percent December increase. This is the seventh consecutive increase. Inventories increased $1.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $471.9 billion, following a 0.1 percent December increase. This is the fifth consecutive increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.27, down from 1.28 in December. NAPM Non-Manufacturing for Feb. = +58% napm.org "NAPM?s Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index registered 58 percent in February, 5.5 percentage points higher than in January, indicating faster growth in non-manufacturing economic activity. Comments from purchasing executives continue to be positive on business activity in February. Increased business activity in February was reported by 28 percent of purchasers, a decrease of 2 percentage points from the 30 percent reporting more activity in January. Of the industry groups reporting in the February NAPM non-manufacturing survey, 13 indicated increased activity, 2 indicated decreased activity, and 2 reported no change in activity level. In January, 9 industry groups reported increased activity, 7 reported decreased activity, and none advised no change," said Kauffman.
