August Manufacturing ISM Report On Business(R); PMI at 49.9%; Production Growing;...

August Manufacturing ISM Report On Business(R); PMI at 49.9%; Production Growing; New Orders, Employment and Inventories Contracting; Supplier Deliveries Slowing

DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional
purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's
information reflects the entire United States, while the regional
reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities.
Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in
calculating the results of the national report. The information
compiled in this report is for the month of August 2008.
TEMPE, Ariz.--(Business Wire)--
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector failed to grow in
August, while the overall economy grew for the 82nd consecutive month,
say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM
Report On Business(R).

The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, C.P.M., chair of
the Institute for Supply Management(TM) Manufacturing Business Survey
Committee. "The PMI indicates a slight decline in manufacturing during
August. This continues the 2008 trend toward negligible growth or
contraction each month, but ultimately results in very little overall
change in the sector. This month's report is showing the first signs
of lower prices as the Prices Index fell significantly, though it is
still at an inflationary level. Export orders picked up additional
momentum, and that is important to manufacturers as domestic demand
remains soft for most industries."

PERFORMANCE BY INDUSTRY

The five industries reporting growth in August -- listed in order
-- are: Paper Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous
Manufacturing; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; and Chemical
Products. The industries reporting contraction in August are: Wood
Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products;
Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; and
Primary Metals.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING ...

-- "Business is picking up and continues to improve for projects
to be constructed in third and fourth quarters 2008."
(Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components)

-- "The lower oil prices and stronger dollar are good news."
(Fabricated Metal Products)

-- "We are contracting our manufacturing skills to companies
involved in wind power, coal mining and other energy fields in
order to ride the recessionary wave in the rust belt."
(Machinery)

-- "Material prices continue to rise; however, selling prices of
our products have risen as well." (Paper Products)

-- "Prices remain predictable ... they keep going up." (Food,
Beverage & Tobacco Products)

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*T
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE
AUGUST 2008

Series Series Percentage Direction Rate of Trend(a)
Index Index Point Change (Months)
Index Aug. July Change

PMI 49.9 50.0 -0.1 Contracting From 1
Unchanged
New Orders 48.3 45.0 +3.3 Contracting Slower 9
Production 52.1 52.9 -0.8 Growing Slower 4
Employment 49.7 51.9 -2.2 Contracting From 1
Growing
Supplier 50.3 55.1 -4.8 Slowing Slower 14
Deliveries
Inventories 49.3 45.0 +4.3 Contracting Slower 2
Customers' 54.5 47.0 +7.5 Too High From 1
Inventories Too Low
Prices 77.0 88.5 -11.5 Increasing Slower 20
Backlog of 43.5 43.0 +0.5 Contracting Slower 4
Orders
Exports 57.0 54.0 +3.0 Growing Faster 69
Imports 48.5 46.5 +2.0 Contracting Slower 7
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Slower 82
From
Manufacturing Sector Contracting Unchanged 1
*T

(a) Number of months moving in current direction

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE and IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price

Acrylics; Aluminum (7); Aluminum Extrusions (6); Caustic Soda (6);
Chemicals (4); Corrugated Containers (4); Diesel Fuel(b) (6); Freight
(4); Fuel Surcharges (6); Petroleum Based Products (4);
Petrochemicals; Plastics (3); Plastic Resins; Polyethylene;
Polyethylene -- High Density; Polypropylene Resins; PVC; Steel (8);
and Sulfuric Acid (2).

Commodities Down in Price

Copper; Corn; Diesel Fuel(b); Fuel Oil; Natural Gas; and Soybean
Oil.

Commodities in Short Supply

Caustic Soda (6) is the only commodity reported in short supply.

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is
indicated after each item.

(b) Reported as both up and down in price

AUGUST 2008 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

PMI

Manufacturing contracted in August as the PMI registered 49.9
percent, 0.1 percentage point lower than the 50 percent reported in
July. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing
economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is
generally contracting.

A PMI in excess of 41.1 percent, over a period of time, generally
indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the PMI
indicates the overall economy is growing and the manufacturing sector
is contracting. Ore stated, "The past relationship between the PMI and
the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through
August (49.5 percent) corresponds to a 2.6 percent increase in real
gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, if the PMI for August (49.9
percent) is annualized, it corresponds to a 2.8 percent increase in
real GDP annually."

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

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*T
Month PMI Month PMI

Aug 2008 49.9 Feb 2008 48.3
Jul 2008 50.0 Jan 2008 50.7
Jun 2008 50.2 Dec 2007 48.4
May 2008 49.6 Nov 2007 50.0
Apr 2008 48.6 Oct 2007 50.4
Mar 2008 48.6 Sep 2007 50.5
Average for 12 months - 49.6
High - 50.7
Low - 48.3
*T

New Orders

ISM's New Orders Index registered 48.3 percent in August, 3.3
percentage points higher than the 45 percentage points registered in
July. A New Orders Index above 51.6 percent, over time, is generally
consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on
manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

Five industries reported increases during August: Apparel, Leather
& Allied Products; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing;
Computer & Electronic Products; and Chemical Products. The industries
failing to grow in August are: Wood Products; Fabricated Metal
Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Furniture & Related
Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products;
Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; and Primary
Metals.

-0-
*T
New Orders %Better %Same %Worse Net Index

Aug 2008 23 48 29 -6 48.3
Jul 2008 18 54 28 -10 45.0
Jun 2008 29 46 25 +4 49.6
May 2008 25 52 23 +2 49.7
*T

Production

ISM's Production Index decreased to 52.1 percent in August, a
decrease of 0.8 percentage point from the 52.9 percent reported in
July. An index above 49.9 percent, over time, is generally consistent
with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production
figures.

Of the industries reporting in August, four registered growth:
Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic
Products; and Chemical Products. The industries failing to grow in
August are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products;
Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment,
Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; and Fabricated
Metal Products.

-0-
*T
Production %Better %Same %Worse Net Index

Aug 2008 21 61 18 +3 52.1
Jul 2008 21 62 17 +4 52.9
Jun 2008 25 54 21 +4 51.5
May 2008 24 59 17 +7 51.2
*T

Employment

ISM's Employment Index registered 49.7 percent in August, which is
a decrease of 2.2 percentage points when compared to the 51.9 percent
reported in July. An Employment Index above 49.5 percent, over time,
is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

The seven industries reporting growth in employment during August
are: Petroleum & Coal Products; Printing & Related Support Activities;
Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Paper Products; Computer & Electronic
Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products.
The industries that reported decreases in employment during August
are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Wood Products; Primary Metals;
Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and
Transportation Equipment.

-0-
*T
Employment %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index

Aug 2008 17 63 20 -3 49.7
Jul 2008 19 65 16 +3 51.9
Jun 2008 11 69 20 -9 43.7
May 2008 17 63 20 -3 45.5
*T

Supplier Deliveries

The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing
organizations continued to slow, but at a slower rate in August, as
the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 50.3 percent, which is 4.8
percentage points lower than the 55.1 percent registered in July. A
reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

The six industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in August
are: Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products;
Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic
Products; and Transportation Equipment. The industries reporting
faster deliveries in August are: Miscellaneous Manufacturing;
Fabricated Metal Products; and Machinery.

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*T
Supplier Deliveries %Slower %Same %Faster Net Index

Aug 2008 9 84 7 +2 50.3
Jul 2008 15 82 3 +12 55.1
Jun 2008 16 79 5 +11 55.1
May 2008 14 81 5 +9 53.7
*T

Inventories

Manufacturers' inventories contracted in August as the Inventories
Index registered 49.3 percent, which is 4.3 percentage points higher
than the 45 percent reported in July. An Inventories Index greater
than 42.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion
in the Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) figures on overall
manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

The seven industries reporting higher inventories in August are:
Furniture & Related Products; Printing & Related Support Activities;
Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal
Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco
Products; and Machinery. The industries that reported decreases in
August are: Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products;
Paper Products; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and
Transportation Equipment.

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*T
Inventories %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index

Aug 2008 18 65 17 +1 49.3
Jul 2008 12 64 24 -12 45.0
Jun 2008 21 58 21 0 51.2
May 2008 19 58 23 -4 48.0
*T

Customers' Inventories(c)

The ISM Customers' Inventories Index registered 54.5 percent in
August, an increase of 7.5 percentage points when compared to July's
reading of 47 percent. The index indicates that respondents believe
their customers' inventories are too high at this time.

Six industries reported higher customers' inventories during
August: Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances
& Components; Printing & Related Support Activities; Chemical
Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Machinery. The
industries that reported lower customers' inventories during August
are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer
& Electronic Products; and Fabricated Metal Products.

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*T
Customers' Inventories % %Too %About %Too Net Index
Reporting High Right Low

Aug 2008 66 22 65 13 +9 54.5
Jul 2008 74 17 60 23 -6 47.0
Jun 2008 72 25 60 15 +10 55.0
May 2008 67 14 66 20 -6 47.0
*T

Prices(c)

The ISM Prices Index registered 77 percent in August, indicating
manufacturers are paying higher prices on average when compared to
July. While 60 percent of respondents reported paying higher prices
and 6 percent reported paying lower prices, 34 percent of supply
executives reported paying the same prices as the preceding month. A
Prices Index above 47.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent
with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Index of
Manufacturers Prices.

In August, 17 industries reported paying higher prices: Textile
Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Petroleum &
Coal Products; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical
Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Fabricated Metal
Products; Transportation Equipment; Nonmetallic Mineral Products;
Computer & Electronic Products; Printing & Related Support Activities;
Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances &
Components; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. Primary Metals is
the only industry reporting paying lower prices on average in August.

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*T
Prices %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index

Aug 2008 60 34 6 +54 77.0
Jul 2008 80 17 3 +77 88.5
Jun 2008 84 15 1 +83 91.5
May 2008 78 18 4 +74 87.0
*T

Backlog of Orders(c)

ISM's Backlog of Orders Index registered 43.5 percent in August,
0.5 percentage point higher than the 43 percent reported in July. Of
the 87 percent of respondents who reported their backlog of orders, 15
percent reported greater backlogs, 28 percent reported smaller
backlogs, and 57 percent reported no change from July.

The four industries reporting an increase in order backlogs in
August are: Petroleum & Coal Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied
Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco
Products. The industries that reported decreases in order backlogs
during August are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal
Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary
Metals; Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation
Equipment; and Chemical Products.

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*T
Backlog of Orders % %Greater %Same %Less Net Index
Reporting

Aug 2008 87 15 57 28 -13 43.5
Jul 2008 85 15 56 29 -14 43.0
Jun 2008 86 19 57 24 -5 47.5
May 2008 87 18 56 26 -8 46.0
*T

New Export Orders(c)

ISM's New Export Orders Index registered 57 percent in August, an
increase of 3 percentage points when compared to July's index of 54
percent. This is the 69th consecutive month of growth in the New
Export Orders Index.

The 10 industries reporting growth in new export orders in August
are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Nonmetallic
Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products;
Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances &
Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products;
and Transportation Equipment. Machinery is the only industry reporting
a decrease in new export orders in August.

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*T
New Export Orders % %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Reporting

Aug 2008 79 23 68 9 +14 57.0
Jul 2008 75 17 74 9 +8 54.0
Jun 2008 79 22 73 5 +17 58.5
May 2008 78 26 67 7 +19 59.5
*T

Imports(c)

Imports of materials by manufacturers contracted during August as
the Imports Index registered 48.5 percent, 2 percentage points higher
than the 46.5 percent reported in July. This is the seventh
consecutive month of contraction in imports.

The six industries reporting growth in import activity for August
are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Plastics & Rubber
Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic
Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery. The industries that
reported decreases in imports during August are: Wood Products;
Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances &
Components; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

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*T
Imports % %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Reporting

Aug 2008 82 9 79 12 -3 48.5
Jul 2008 80 8 77 15 -7 46.5
Jun 2008 82 9 74 17 -8 46.0
May 2008 82 12 75 13 -1 49.5
*T

(c) The Backlog of Orders, Prices, Customers' Inventories, Imports
and New Export Orders Indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for
seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy

Average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures remained
unchanged at 117 days. Average lead time for Production Materials
increased 7 days to 55 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair
and Operating (MRO) Supplies increased 2 days to 22 days.

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*T
Percent Reporting

Capital Hand-to- 30 60 90 6 1 Average
Expenditures Mouth Days Days Days Months Year+ Days

Aug 2008 25 6 16 16 24 13 117
Jul 2008 27 6 9 19 27 12 117
Jun 2008 23 7 11 20 25 14 123
May 2008 22 12 10 19 25 12 116
*T

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*T
Production Hand-to- 30 60 90 6 1 Average
Materials Mouth Days Days Days Months Year+ Days

Aug 2008 23 35 27 6 6 3 55
Jul 2008 21 42 25 6 4 2 48
Jun 2008 18 41 24 9 6 2 54
May 2008 22 37 25 10 4 2 51
*T

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*T
MRO Supplies Hand-to- 30 60 90 6 1 Average
Mouth Days Days Days Months Year+ Days

Aug 2008 53 34 9 4 0 0 22
Jul 2008 56 32 10 2 0 0 20
Jun 2008 50 38 8 3 0 1 25
May 2008 51 35 8 4 1 1 27
*T

About this Report

The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of
manufacturing supply managers based on information they have collected
within their respective organizations. ISM makes no representation,
other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual
company data collection procedures. Use of the data is in the public
domain and should be compared to all other economic data sources when
used in decision-making.

Data and Method of Presentation

The Manufacturing ISM Report On Business(R) is based on data
compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. Membership
of the Manufacturing Business Survey Committee is diversified by
NAICS, based on each industry's contribution to gross domestic product
(GDP). Manufacturing Business Survey Committee responses are divided
into the following NAICS code categories: Food, Beverage & Tobacco
Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood
Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities;
Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber
Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated
Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical
Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment;
Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing
(products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting
goods, toys and office supplies).

Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month
compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured
(New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports,
Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Customers' Inventories,
Employment and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting
each response, the net difference between the number of responses in
the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for
Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse
and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index.
Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index
includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those
responding the same (considered positive).

The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria
for seasonal adjustments (PMI, New Orders, Production, Employment,
Supplier Deliveries and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to
allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting
primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various
institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to
non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are supplied by
the U.S. Department of Commerce and are subject annually to relatively
minor changes when conditions warrant them. The PMI is a composite
index based on the seasonally adjusted diffusion indexes for five of
the indicators with equal weights: New Orders, Production, Employment,
Supplier Deliveries and Inventories.

Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and
are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of
change and the scope of change. A PMI reading above 50 percent
indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below
50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A PMI in excess
of 41.1 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall
economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding;
below 41.1 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50
percent or 41.1 percent is indicative of the strength of the expansion
or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM has
indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of
comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis.

Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the
current month's lead time, the approximate weighted number of days
ahead for which commitments are made for Production Materials; Capital
Expenditures; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies,
expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six
months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average
number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not
seasonally adjusted since there is no significant seasonal pattern.

The Manufacturing ISM Report On Business(R) is published monthly
by the Institute for Supply Management(TM). The Institute for Supply
Management(TM), established in 1915, is the largest supply management
organization in the world as well as one of the most respected. ISM's
mission is to lead the supply management profession through its
standards of excellence, research, promotional activities and
education. This report has been issued by the association since 1931,
except for a four-year interruption during World War II.

The full text version of the Manufacturing ISM Report On
Business(R) is posted on ISM's Web site at www.ism.ws on the first
business day of every month after 10:10 a.m. (ET).

The next Manufacturing ISM Report On Business(R) featuring the
September 2008 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday,
October 1, 2008.

Institute for Supply Management, Tempe
Rose Marie Goupil, 800-888-6276, Ext. 3015
E-mail: rgoupil@ism.ws

Copyright Business Wire 2008