Economic activity in the US manufacturing sector contracted in July for the ninth consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
The July Manufacturing PMI registered 46.4 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than the 46 percent recorded in June. Regarding the overall economy, this figure indicates an eighth month of contraction after a 30-month period of expansion. Index breakdown:
| Index | July level | June level |
| New Orders | 47.3 | 45.6 |
| Production | 48.3 | 46.7 |
| Prices | 42.6 | 41.8 |
| Backlog of Orders | 42.8 | 38.7 |
| Employment | 44.4 | 48.1 |
| Supplier Deliveries | 46.1 | 45.7 |
| Inventories | 46.1 | 44 |
| New Export Orders | 46.2 | 47.3 |
| Imports | 49.6 | 49.3 |
The two manufacturing industries that reported growth in July are: petroleum and coal products; and furniture and related products.
The 16 industries reporting contraction in July, in the following order, are: apparel, leather and allied products; plastics and rubber products; paper products; textile mills; wood products; computer and electronic products; chemical products; primary metals; food, beverage and tobacco products; electrical equipment, appliances and components; printing and related support activities; miscellaneous manufacturing; fabricated metal products; transportation equipment; nonmetallic mineral products; and machinery.