The greater Grand Rapids industrial economy continues to experience
modest growth, according to the results of a monthly survey compiled
by Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the
Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University.
The survey results are based on data collected in the last two
weeks of January. The survey’s index of business improvement, called
new orders, eased slightly to +25, down from +31. The production index
rose higher to +29 from +19. The index of purchases rose modestly to
+29, up from +19. The employment index rose slightly to +29, up from +27.
Long said the recovery of the office furniture industry is still
on track, stronger auto sales have resulted in more business for local
auto parts suppliers, and several local firms are approaching full
capacity. He said, in general, performance for industrial distributors
remains positive and although capital equipment firms are still
recovering, this month’s performance was mixed. Performance for the
firms related to the aircraft industry was generally down.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey
of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the
greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are
purchasing managers from the region’s major industrial manufacturers,
distributors, and industrial service organizations. It is patterned
after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply
Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight
factors as “same,” “up” or “down.” An expanded version of this report
and details of the methodology used to compile it are available at
www.gvsu.edu/scblogistics.
DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO:
* Brian Long says the local economic recovery is still on track (audio).
* Long says more local companies are beginning to hire (audio).
* Long says auto parts suppliers are back to where they were in 2005 (audio).
* Long says nationally, there was a record number of news orders last month (audio).
