The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions.
The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology as the national survey to consult supply managers and business leaders. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the report.
The overall index ranges between 0 and 100. Growth neutral is 50, and a figure greater than 50 indicates an expanding economy over the next three to six months.
Here are the state-by-state results for March:
Arkansas: The state’s overall index for March rose to 51.0 from February’s 46.1. Components of the index were new orders at 54.0, production or sales at 51.1, delivery lead time at 51.8, inventories at 51.4 and employment at 46.6. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Arkansas’ manufacturing sector has lost almost 9,000 jobs while output per worker has expanded by approximately 17.8 percent, the highest in the region,” Goss said. “Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to an expansion in manufacturing output but with fewer manufacturing jobs through quarter two of 2016.”
Iowa: The March index for Iowa was unchanged from February’s 51.3. Components of the index were new orders at 54.2, production or sales at 51.2, delivery lead time at 52.7, employment at 46.7 and inventories at 51.5. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Iowa’s manufacturing sector has added more than 13,000 jobs while output per worker has expanded by approximately 8 percent, the sixth highest in the region,” Goss said. Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to higher manufacturing output but with the loss of some jobs through the second quarter of 2016, he said.
Kansas: The Kansas index for March sank to 49.5 from 52.3 in February. Components of the index were new orders at 49.4, production or sales at 52.2, delivery lead time at 50.9, employment at 45.0 and inventories at 49.7. The state’s manufacturing sector has lost almost 4,000 jobs since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Goss said. Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to an expansion in manufacturing output but with fewer manufacturing jobs over the next three to six months, he said.
Minnesota: The overall index declined to 50.7 in March from February’s 52.1. Components of the Minnesota index were new orders at 53.5, production or sales at 50.6, delivery lead time at 50.9, inventories at 52.1 and employment at 46.2. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Minnesota’s manufacturing sector has added almost 17,000 jobs while output per worker has expanded by approximately 10.4 percent,” Goss said. Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to higher manufacturing output but with the number of manufacturing jobs remaining flat for the next three to six months, he said.
Missouri: The Missouri overall index fell to 49.9 in March from 52.3 in February. Components of the index were new orders at 52.7, production or sales at 49.8, delivery lead time at 51.3, inventories at 50.1 and employment at 45.4. Missouri’s manufacturing sector has added almost 4,000 jobs since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, while output per worker has risen by around 7 percent. “Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to an expansion in manufacturing output, but with the number of manufacturing jobs declining slightly over the next three to six months,” Goss said.
Nebraska: The March overall index hit 53.3 last month for Nebraska, compared with 47.2 in February. Components of the index were new orders at 45.9, production or sales at 50.4, delivery lead time at 51.9, inventories at 50.7, and employment at 53.3. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Nebraska’s manufacturing sector has added more than 4,000 jobs while output per worker has expanded by approximately 16.1 percent,” Goss said. Creighton’s surveys point to more manufacturing output for the state but with manufacturing job losses for the next three to six months, he said.
North Dakota: North Dakota’s overall index rose to 47.8 last month, a regional low, from February’s 46.4. Components of the index were new orders at 50.6, production or sales at 47.8, delivery lead time at 49.2, employment at 43.5 and inventories at 48.1. The state’s manufacturing sector has added almost 2,000 jobs since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, while output per worker has risen by around 14.6 percent. “Creighton’s surveys over the past several months point to a contraction in manufacturing output and jobs over the next three to six months,” said Goss.
Oklahoma: The overall index for Oklahoma remained growth neutral for an 11th straight month but jumped in March to 49.7 from 39.4 in February. Components of the index were new orders at 52.5, production or sales at 49.7, delivery lead time at 51.1, inventories at 50.0 and employment at 45.3. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, Oklahoma’s manufacturing sector has added more than 7,000 jobs while output per worker has fallen by 6.4 percent, the worst productivity performance among the nine states,” Goss said. Creighton’s surveys point to a contraction in manufacturing output and jobs over the next three to six months, he said.
South Dakota: The state’s overall index declined in March to 51.1 from February’s regional high of 57.4. Components of the index were new orders at 54.0, production or sales at 51.1, delivery lead time at 52.6, inventories at 51.4 and employment at 46.5. “Since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, South Dakota’s manufacturing sector has added almost 5,000 jobs while output per worker has expanded by approximately 8.1 percent,” Goss said. Creighton’s surveys point to an expansion in manufacturing output but with the number of manufacturing jobs remaining flat for the next three to six months, he said.
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