With a reading of 48.5, the MBI showed that the metalworking industry contracted slightly in April after growing in March. Since the noticeable contraction in the second half of 2012, the industry has been virtually flat.
With a reading of 50.5, Gardner’s metalworking business index showed that business activity in the metalworking industry increased for the first time since June 2012.
With a reading of 49.6, Gardner’s metalworking index showed that business activity in the metalworking industry was virtually flat in February 2013 compared to January 2013.
With a reading of 49.7, the MBI showed that business activity in the metalworking industry was virtually flat in January 2013 compared with December 2012, but the industry clearly has broken out of the downward trend it began last March.
While October’s MBI reading showed that the industry contracted for the fourth month in a row, it appears that there was a slight change in the trend: Growth wasn't contracting as fast as contraction was accelerating.
Employment continues to increase in the metalworking industry. Supplier deliveries are still lengthening, indicating strength throughout manufacturing, but they are lengthening more slowly.