FOR RELEASE: September 6, 2005
Contact: | Rose Marie Goupil |
ISM, Media Relations | |
Tempe, Arizona | |
800/888-6276, Ext. 3015 | |
E-mail: rgoupil@ism.ws |
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 2005.
(Tempe, Arizona) — Business activity in the non-manufacturing sector increased in August 2005, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.
The report was issued today by Ralph G. Kauffman, Ph.D., C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee and coordinator of the Supply Chain Management Program, University of Houston-Downtown. "Non-manufacturing business activity increased for the 29th consecutive month in August," Kauffman said. He added, "Business Activity increased at a faster rate in August than in July. New Orders, Employment and Inventories also increased at faster rates. Many members' comments expressed concern about the continuing increase in oil and gas prices and its impact on the prices of other items and on budgets. The overall indication is continued economic growth in the non-manufacturing sector in August at a faster rate of increase than in July."
The 13 industries reporting growth in August — listed in order — are: Mining; Transportation; Utilities; Real Estate; Legal Services, Insurance; Other Services*; Retail Trade; Health Services; Communication; Business Services; Construction; and Public Administration. The four industries reporting activity the same as last month are: Agriculture; Wholesale Trade; Finance & Banking; and Entertainment. No industry is reporting decreased activity from July to August.
ISM NON-MANUFACTURING SURVEY RESULTS AT A GLANCE COMPARISON OF ISM NON-MANUFACTURING AND ISM MANUFACTURING SURVEYS* AUGUST 2005 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-Manufacturing | Manufacturing | ||||||||
Index | Series Index August |
Series Index July |
Percent Point Change |
Direction | Rate of Change |
Trend** (Months) |
Series Index August |
Series Index July |
Percent Point Change |
Business Activity/ Production | 65.0 | 60.5 | +4.5 | Increasing | Faster | 29 | 55.9 | 61.2 | -5.3 |
New Orders | 65.8 | 61.9 | +3.9 | Increasing | Faster | 29 | 56.4 | 60.6 | -4.2 |
Employment | 59.6 | 56.2 | +3.4 | Increasing | Faster | 23 | 52.6 | 53.2 | -0.6 |
Supplier Deliveries | 55.0 | 57.0 | -2.0 | Slowing | Slower | 48 | 50.5 | 51.8 | -1.3 |
Inventories | 53.5 | 52.5 | +1.0 | Increasing | Faster | 7 | 45.7 | 47.5 | -1.8 |
Prices | 67.1 | 70.3 | -3.2 | Increasing | Slower | 27 | 62.5 | 48.5 | +14.0 |
Backlog of Orders | 52.0 | 53.5 | -1.5 | Increasing | Slower | 7 | 50.5 | 49.0 | +1.5 |
New Export Orders | 63.5 | 53.5 | +10.0 | Increasing | Faster | 2 | 53.3 | 55.9 | -2.6 |
Imports | 61.5 | 62.0 | -0.5 | Increasing | Slower | 28 | 53.4 | 54.7 | -1.3 |
Inventory Sentiment | 67.0 | 64.0 | +3.0 | "Too High" | Greater | 99 | N/A | N/A | |
Customers' Inventories | N/A | N/A | 46.5 | 44.5 | +2.0 |
* Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for Business Activity, New Orders, Prices and Employment. Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted except for Backlog of Orders, Prices and Customers' Inventories.
** Number of months moving in current direction
Adhesives; Airfares (5); Asphalt Construction/Products (6); Construction/Construction Services and Contractors (4); Conveyor Belts; Copper/Copper Products (24); #1 Diesel Fuel (6); #2 Diesel Fuel (8); Electrical Products (3); Energy (2); Food/Food & Beverage Products (2); Freight Charges/Shipping (2); Fuel (21); Fuel-Related Surcharges (2); Gasoline (21); Hotel Prices/Costs (9); Medical/Surgical Supplies; Natural Gas (3); Office Machine/Copier Services; Oil-Based Products; Paper/Paper Products (19); Petrochemical Products; Petroleum/Petroleum Products (2); Pipe/Pipe Fittings (3); Plastics/Plastic Products (2); Soy Oil; Tape/Tape Media; Transportation; Trash Can Liners; Travel (2); and Unleaded Gasoline (2).
Beef (3); Computers and Peripherals (3); Corrugated; Lumber — Pine, Spruce and Treated (2); Pork/Pork Ribs; Printing Services; Steel (2); and Technology-Related Equipment.
Concrete; and Steel.
Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
ISM's Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index in August increased to 65 percent from July's 60.5 percent, indicating a faster rate of growth of activity in August. The last time the index exceeded 65 percent was when it registered 66.9 percent in April 2004. This month,13 sectors report increased business activity, none is reporting decreased activity, and four indicate unchanged activity compared to July.
The industries reporting the highest rates of growth of business activity in August are: Mining; Transportation; Utilities; Real Estate; and Legal Services. No industry is reporting contraction of business activity in August.
Business Activity |
%Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 37 | 51 | 12 | 65.0 |
July 2005 | 35 | 53 | 12 | 60.5 |
June 2005 | 38 | 54 | 8 | 62.2 |
May 2005 | 30 | 61 | 9 | 58.5 |
Month | Business Activity Index |
Month | Business Activity Index |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Aug '05 | 65.0 | Feb '05 | 59.8 | |
July '05 | 60.5 | Jan '05 | 59.2 | |
June '05 | 62.2 | Dec '04 | 63.9 | |
May '05 | 58.5 | Nov '04 | 61.9 | |
Apr '05 | 61.7 | Oct '04 | 61.5 | |
Mar '05 | 63.1 | Sep '04 | 58.7 | |
Average for 12 months 61.3 High 65.0 Low 58.5 |
ISM's Non-Manufacturing New Orders Index increased to 65.8 percent in August from 61.9 percent in July. This indicates continued expansion of new orders at a faster rate of growth than in July. Comments from members include: "Some growth in sales"; "New clients in pipeline"; "Capital purchases are driving additional spend"; and "New restaurant openings."
Industries reporting the highest rates of growth of new orders in August are: Real Estate; Mining; Transportation; Agriculture; and Legal Services. No industry is reporting contraction of new orders in August.
New Orders | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 37 | 54 | 9 | 65.8 |
July 2005 | 34 | 58 | 8 | 61.9 |
June 2005 | 35 | 55 | 10 | 59.5 |
May 2005 | 30 | 62 | 8 | 59.7 |
Employment activity in the non-manufacturing sector increased at a faster rate in August compared to July. This was the 23rd consecutive monthly increase in non-manufacturing employment. ISM's Non-Manufacturing Employment Index for August is 59.6 percent, a rise of 3.4 percentage points from July's 56.2 percent. Eleven industries are reporting increased employment, one reports a decrease, and five indicate employment is unchanged from July. Comments from respondents include: "Expansion of sales force"; "Continued growth of business"; "Increased service demand and good financial performance"; "Gearing up for increased business"; and "Strong business demand."
The industries reporting the highest rates of growth in employment in August are: Entertainment; Health Services; Retail Trade; Other Services* and Wholesale Trade. The one industry reporting a reduction in employment in August is Legal Services.
Employment | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 26 | 66 | 8 | 59.6 |
July 2005 | 26 | 64 | 10 | 56.2 |
June 2005 | 29 | 61 | 10 | 57.4 |
May 2005 | 21 | 68 | 11 | 53.4 |
The delivery performance of suppliers to non-manufacturing organizations was slower for the 48th consecutive month in August. The index registered 55 percent, 2 percentage points lower than in July. A reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries. Comments from purchasing and supply executives concerning supplier deliveries in August include: "OEMs having problems getting some components from overseas"; "Delivery of certain goods is getting longer"; "Supply of trucks for scheduling"; "No stock inventory to pull from"; and "Lack of product or capacity to produce."
The industries reporting the highest rates of slowing in supplier deliveries in August are: Legal Services; Real Estate; Public Administration; Retail Trade; and Health Services. The one industry reporting faster supplier deliveries in August is Entertainment.
Supplier Deliveries |
%Slower | %Same | %Faster | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 12 | 86 | 2 | 55.0 |
July 2005 | 17 | 80 | 3 | 57.0 |
June 2005 | 14 | 85 | 1 | 56.5 |
May 2005 | 9 | 89 | 2 | 53.5 |
NOTE: A list of commodities in short supply is available on page 3 of this report.
ISM's Non-Manufacturing Inventories Index registered 53.5 percent in August, 1 percentage point higher than the 52.5 percent reported in July. This is the seventh consecutive month of higher inventories after a dip in inventory size in January. Of the total respondents in August, 32 percent indicate they do not have inventories or do not measure them. Comments from members include: "Selling off excess and obsolete [inventory]"; "Increased volume is pushing inventories out the door"; "Preparation for seasonal demand"; and "Retail stock has been increased to support new stores."
The industries reporting the highest rates of inventory increases in August are: Transportation; Real Estate; Business Services; Communication; Retail Trade; and Health Services. The industries reporting inventory decreases in August are: Construction; Public Administration; Other Services*; and Insurance.
Inventories | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 22 | 63 | 15 | 53.5 |
July 2005 | 24 | 57 | 19 | 52.5 |
June 2005 | 18 | 68 | 14 | 52.0 |
May 2005 | 18 | 67 | 15 | 51.5 |
Prices paid by non-manufacturing organizations for purchased materials and services increased in August for the 27th consecutive month but at a slower rate of increase than in July. ISM's Non-Manufacturing Prices Index for August is 67.1 percent, 3.2 percentage points below the 70.3 percent registered for July. In August, the percentage of members reporting higher prices decreased from 39 percent to 36 percent, the proportion indicating no change remained at 58 percent, and the number noting lower prices increased from 3 percent to 6 percent.
The industries reporting the highest rates of increase in prices paid in August are: Agriculture; Transportation; Insurance; Real Estate; and Legal Services. The one industry reporting price decreases in August is Retail Trade.
Prices | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 36 | 58 | 6 | 67.1 |
July 2005 | 39 | 58 | 3 | 70.3 |
June 2005 | 27 | 68 | 5 | 59.8 |
May 2005 | 27 | 68 | 5 | 57.9 |
NOTE: A list of commodities reported up in price and down in price is available on pages 2 and 3 of this report.
ISM's Non-Manufacturing Backlog of Orders Index registered 52 percent in August. This is a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from the 53.5 percent reported for July. August's increase in order backlogs marks 27 out of the last 28 months that an increase has been reported in order backlogs. Of the total respondents in August, 50 percent indicated they do not measure backlog of orders. Purchasing and supply executives' comments on backlogs of orders include: "Higher demand, less planning"; "Increased maintenance and capital products"; and "Seasonal."
The industries reporting the highest rates of increase in order backlogs in August are: Transportation; Legal Services; Communication; Mining; and Utilities. Industries reporting decreases in backlog of orders in August are: Entertainment; Wholesale Trade; and Public Administration.
Backlog of Orders |
%Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 12 | 80 | 8 | 52.0 |
July 2005 | 19 | 69 | 12 | 53.5 |
June 2005 | 11 | 83 | 6 | 52.5 |
May 2005 | 17 | 79 | 4 | 56.5 |
Orders and requests for services and other non-manufacturing activities to be provided outside of the United States by domestically based personnel increased for the second consecutive month in August after being reported unchanged in June. While June's report followed 22 consecutive months of increases, the August index marks 24 out of the past 25 months the index has exhibited growth. The New Export Orders Index for August is 63.5 percent, compared to July's 53.5 percent. Of the total respondents in August, 78 percent indicated they either do not perform, or do not separately measure, orders for work outside of the United States.
The industries reporting the highest rates of increase in new export orders in August are: Communication; Finance & Banking; Insurance; Mining; and Other Services*. No industry is reporting a decrease in new export orders in August.
New Export Orders |
%Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 32 | 63 | 5 | 63.5 |
July 2005 | 18 | 71 | 11 | 53.5 |
June 2005 | 18 | 64 | 18 | 50.0 |
May 2005 | 31 | 62 | 7 | 62.0 |
In August, the ISM Imports Index registered 61.5 percent, 0.5 percentage point lower than the 62 percent reported in July. This indicates that use of imported materials by non-manufacturing industries increased at a slower rate in August than in July. August's index marks the 28th consecutive month of import growth. In August, 71 percent of respondents reported that they do not use or do not track the use of imported materials.
The industries reporting increases in the use of imports in August are: Communication; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; and Business Services. No industry is reporting a decrease in the use of imports in August.
Imports | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 25 | 73 | 2 | 61.5 |
July 2005 | 26 | 72 | 2 | 62.0 |
June 2005 | 25 | 67 | 8 | 58.5 |
May 2005 | 22 | 71 | 7 | 57.5 |
The ISM Non-Manufacturing Inventory Sentiment Index in August registered 67 percent, 3 percentage points higher than the 64 percent reported in July. This indicates that non-manufacturing purchasing and supply executives feel a greater degree of discomfort with current levels of inventory in August than they did during July. The index has not registered this high since November 2001 when it also registered 67 percent. In August, 37 percent of respondents felt their inventories were too high, 3 percent indicated their inventories were too low, and 60 percent said that their inventories were about right.
The industries reporting the highest rates of feeling that their inventories are too high in August are: Communication; Insurance; Legal Services; Business Services; Mining; Construction; and Wholesale Trade. No industry is reporting that its inventories are too low in August.
Inventory Sentiment |
%Too High | %About Right | %Too Low | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 2005 | 37 | 60 | 3 | 67.0 |
July 2005 | 35 | 58 | 7 | 64.0 |
June 2005 | 33 | 63 | 4 | 64.5 |
May 2005 | 30 | 66 | 4 | 63.0 |
*Other Services include:
Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps, and Other Lodging Places; Personal Services; Automotive Repair, Services, and Parking; Miscellaneous Repair Services; Educational Services; Social Services; Museums, Art Galleries, and Botanical and Zoological Gardens; Membership Organizations; Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management and Related Services; and Miscellaneous Services.
The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of non-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.
The Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questions asked of more than 370 purchasing and supply executives in over 62 different industries representing nine divisions from the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) categories. Membership of the Business Survey Committee is diversified by SIC category and is based on each industry's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (Business Activity, New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Inventory Change, Inventory Sentiment, Imports, Prices, Employment and Supplier Deliveries), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower and faster for Supplier Deliveries). Responses represent raw data and are never changed. Data is seasonally adjusted for Business Activity, New Orders, Prices and Employment. The remaining indexes have not indicated significant seasonality.
A weighted composite index similar to the PMI that is so popular in the Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® is not available. Several years of data will need to be developed before that type of non-manufacturing indicator can be developed. Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. An index reading above 50 percent indicates that the non-manufacturing economy in that index is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. Supplier Deliveries is an exception. A Supplier Deliveries Index above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries and below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries.
The Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® is published monthly by the Institute for Supply Management™, the largest supply management research and education organization in the United States. The Institute for Supply Management™, 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.
The full text version of the Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® is posted on ISM's Web site at www.ism.ws on the third business day of every month after 10:10 a.m. (ET). The next Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® featuring the September 2005 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on October 5, 2005.