Economic activity in the US manufacturing sector contracted in October for the 12th consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
The Manufacturing PMI registered 46.7 percent in October, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 49 percent recorded in September. The overall economy dropped back into contraction after one month of weak expansion preceded by nine months of contraction and a 30-month period of expansion before that. Index breakdown:
| Index | October level | September level |
| New Orders | 45.5 | 49.2 |
| Production | 50.4 | 52.5 |
| Prices | 45.1 | 43.8 |
| Backlog of Orders | 42.2 | 42.4 |
| Employment | 46.8 | 51.2 |
| Supplier Deliveries | 47.7 | 46.4 |
| Inventories | 43.3 | 45.8 |
| New Export Orders | 49.4 | 47.4 |
| Imports | 47.9 | 48.2 |
The two manufacturing industries that reported growth in October are: food, beverage and tobacco products; and plastics and rubber products.
The 13 industries reporting contraction in October—in the following order—are: printing and related support activities; textile mills; electrical equipment, appliances and components; machinery; fabricated metal products; wood products; computer and electronic products; furniture and related products; paper products; miscellaneous manufacturing; primary metals; chemical products; and transportation equipment.