The manufacturing sector expanded in September and the overall economy grew for the 100th consecutive month, according to supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The September PMI was 60.8 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from the August reading.

The New Orders Index registered 64.6 percent, an increase of 4.3 percentage points from the August reading. The Production Index registered 62.2 percent, a 1.2 percentage point increase compared to the August reading. The Employment Index registered 60.3 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from August. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 64.4 percent, a 7.3 percentage point increase. The Inventories Index registered 52.5 percent, a decrease of 3 percentage points from the August reading. The Prices Index registered 71.5 percent in September, a 9.5 percentage point increase from the August level, indicating higher raw materials prices for the 19th consecutive month.

A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 17 reported growth in September, in the following order: Textile Mills; Machinery; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; Wood Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Primary Metals. One industry, Furniture & Related Products, reported contraction in September compared to August.

For more information, visit www.ism.ws.