TEMPE, Ariz. — April 1, 2019 — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March, and the overall economy grew for the 119th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The March PMI® registered 55.3 percent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the February reading of 54.2 percent. The New Orders Index registered 57.4 percent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points from the February reading of 55.5 percent. The Production Index registered 55.8 percent, a 1-percentage point increase compared to the February reading of 54.8 percent. The Employment Index registered 57.5 percent, an increase of 5.2 percentage points from the February reading of 52.3 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 54.2 percent, a 0.7 percentage point decrease from the February reading of 54.9 percent. The Inventories Index registered 51.8 percent, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from the February reading of 53.4 percent. The Prices Index registered 54.3 percent, a 4.9-percentage point increase from the February reading of 49.4 percent, indicating a return of increasing raw materials prices after a two-month respite.

“Comments from the panel reflect continued expanding business strength, supported by gains in new orders and employment. Demand expansion continued, with the New Orders Index returning to the high 50s, the Customers’ Inventories Index improving but remaining too low, and the Backlog of Orders Index softening to marginal expansion levels. Consumption (production and employment) continued to expand and regained its footing with a combined 6.2-percentage point gain from the previous month’s levels, recovering most of February’s loss. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — were lower this month, primarily due to inventory consumption exceeding inputs, resulting in a combined 2.3-point decline in the Supplier Deliveries and Inventories indexes that contributed negatively to the PMI®. Imports expansion declined to near-zero expansion levels. Overall, inputs continue to reflect an easing business environment, but to a lesser extent than in February, confirmed by the Prices Index returning to expansion.

“Exports orders continue to expand, but at marginal levels. Prices reversed two months of contraction by returning to a robust mid-50s level. The manufacturing sector continues to expand, demonstrated by improvements in the PMI® three-month rolling average, which is consistent with overall manufacturing growth projections,” says Fiore.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in March, in the following order: Printing and Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Food, Beverage and Tobacco Products; Petroleum and Coal Products; Computer and Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components; Furniture and Related Products; Chemical Products; Plastics and Rubber Products; Wood Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; and Machinery. The two industries reporting contraction in March are: Apparel, Leather and Allied Products; and Paper Products.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

“Customer orders remain strong.” (Textile Mills)

“The electronics industry seems to be slowly coming out of crisis mode. Lead times and costs have leveled out in some commodities, and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) prices are actually coming down.” (Computer & Electronic Products)

“Brexit continues to be a concern, despite the fact that our organization has already rolled out a plan to minimize its impact.” (Chemical Products)

“Business remains very strong amid rumors of a slowdown, but forecasts do not indicate this. Electronics are at tight capacity from manufacturers, with no [change] in the near future.” (Transportation Equipment)

“Strong customer orders continue.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

“Current weather conditions causing significant delivery delays [and] diminishing our production capabilities.” (Machinery)

“Strong business momentum coming into January and early February has slowed to typical seasonal business conditions for our industry.” (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)

“General procurement levels remain strong based on demand. Backlog for domestic new and repaired equipment continues to grow. Production meeting customer delivery requirements is a challenge. Still experiencing a skills gap in hiring qualified shop personnel, machinists and mechanics.” (Fabricated Metal Products)

“Steel tariffs continue to put upward pressure on our input costs. The government shutdown delayed the process of gaining exemptions to the tariffs.” (Petroleum & Coal Products)

“Awaiting with anticipation the outcome of the U.S.-China trade deal.” (Plastics and Rubber Products)

“Experienced a reduction in orders, with forecasted softness going into Q2.” (Primary Metals)

“Weather in the domestic market is constraining homebuilding across the nation — too wet in the south, severe winter in the north. Expectations are that homebuilding backlog is growing, and a surge of domestic business will come in May and June. Internationally, the Chinese trade war is still holding business back, but expectations are that in April or May, business will spring back materially as tariffs resolve.” (Wood Products)

“Skilled labor is still tough to find.” (Apparel, Leather & Allied Products)

“Steel in U.S. remains strong, driving numerous product lines.” (Nonmetallic Mineral Products)

“Business is very strong and has been for over two years.” (Furniture & Related Products)

Posted April 1, 2019

Source: The Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — April 1, 2019 — Launch of preparations for Heimtextil 2020: with the meeting of the Trend Council, the international trade fair for home and contract textiles paves the way for its new season. A high-calibre committee met in Frankfurt am Main on 20 and 21 March 2019.

Those present included Anne Marie Commandeur, Grietje Schepers and Harm Rensink from Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (NL), Caroline Till and Titia Dane from Studio FranklinTill (GB) as well as Anja Bisgaard Gaede with her agency SPOTT trends + business (DK). As this year’s lead office, Stijlinstituut Amsterdam will be responsible for the conception and implementation of the Trend Book and the presentation at the trade fair in January of next year.

New: materials library on the theme of sustainability

Over two intensive days, the trend researchers brought together the relevant trends from architecture, interior design, fashion and art and discussed their impact on home and contract textiles. Particularly striking this year was the broad range and wealth of inspirations and exemplary projects, which, despite their apparent diversity, combined to form a coherent overarching trend story. The Stijlinstituut Amsterdam will use the result achieved together to determine five design orientations over the coming months that will be staged in a tangible way for the industry and illustrated by products presented by Heimtextil exhibitors.

‘The central achievement of the Trend Council is to make sense of the growing cacophony of current trends, hypes and fads. It is also our aim to sharpen our focus on future-related topics that go beyond seasonal trend statements’, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. In this context, Heimtextil Trends 20/21 will be supplemented by a materials library that will present innovative, sustainable materials and demonstrate their specific potential for the industry and interior design. The Heimtextil Trend Book, which will be available from September via Heimtextil, and the high-quality Trend Space during the fair will provide concrete illustrations of the trends with regard to themes, colours, materials, textures and patterns.

Recognized instrument for the industry

The Heimtextil Trends, which Messe Frankfurt has been announcing annually since 1991, are regarded as a trendsetting instrument for the global textile furnishing sector. The overall concept includes a large service package for manufacturers, users and dealers: Messe Frankfurt first invites the sector to prepare for the upcoming season at an advance presentation in late summer. The designers responsible present the new Heimtextil Trend Book as part of this event, complete with colour cards and in-depth information on the individual design trends. Exhibitors at Heimtextil will receive this publication ahead of the trade fair as a valuable orientation aid for product design and collection building.

Trend Council 20/21

The following international design studios are members of the Trend Council and they work together to define the trend themes for the upcoming Heimtextil:

Stijlinstituut Amsterdam, Netherlands

This year, Stijlinstituut Amsterdam will be responsible for the content and implementation of the Trend Book and the exhibition. Anne Marie Commandeur is the founder and face of this internationally renowned agency. She manages a team of designers who focus on textile innovations, predictions, colour trends and strategic design concepts. Today, her Stijlinstituut Amsterdam agency acts as a versatile and dynamic force in the industry and keeps fashion companies and fashion-related companies up to date on the most important developments. For the Heimtextil Trends 20/21, Anne Marie Commandeur will be working together with freelance designer Grietje Schepers and designer Harm Rensink (The Studio).

www.stijlinstituut.nl

FranklinTill Studio, United Kingdom

The London-based design studio FranklinTill comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broad-ranging, international network of creatives and visionaries. The multidisciplinary agency’s varied projects include trend reports, colour forecasts, design realisations, brand developments and curating trade fairs and exhibitions. FranklinTill plays a pioneering role when it comes to the integration of sustainability into design concepts. Designer Titia Dane will also be working on the Heimtextil Trends 20/21 alongside agency co-founder Caroline Till.

www.franklintill.com

SPOTT Trends & Business, Denmark

The agency SPOTT Trends & Business advises lifestyle brands on questions relating to consumer insight, trend and colour forecasting. With her business-oriented approach, founder Anja Bisgaard Gaede focuses on the development of the brand. She combines her Scandinavian design perspective with trend research, neuroscience and her extensive commercial experience. Anja Bisgaard Gaede is also known beyond the fashion and textile industry for her lectures and as a specialist book author.

www.spottrends.dk

The next Heimtextil will take place from 7-10 January 2020.

Posted April 1, 2019

Source: Messe Frankfurt