Moldmaking Index Growth Continues to Seesaw
Production, supplier deliveries and new orders lifted the Moldmaking Index, at 54.4 for September 2018.
.jpg;width=70;height=70;mode=crop;format=webp)
Registering 54.4 for September 2018, the averages-based Gardner Business Index (GBI): Moldmaking expanded after a recording in August that was as low as it has been in nearly two years. Compared to the same month one year ago, the Moldmaking Index is up 1.9 percent but is well below the all-time high readings that it reached during the first quarter of 2018. Gardner Intelligence’s review of the underlying data for the month reveals that production and new orders recorded sharp expansions for the month along with smaller gains in backlogs and employment. Production, supplier deliveries and new orders lifted the Moldmaking Index, while employment, backlogs and exports lowered the Moldmaking Index. Exports were the only component of the Moldmaking Index to contract during the month, meaning that it registered a reading below 50.0.
The backlog component of the Moldmaking Index expanded in September after contracting in August. Before that, the last time that backlogs recorded a contraction was during the fourth quarter of 2017. During the first half of 2018, backlog expanded at the greatest rate recorded in the history of the Moldmaking Index, which makes this component one of the most volatile year-to-date.
About the Author
Michael Guckes is the chief economist for Gardner Intelligence, a division of Gardner Business Media (Cincinnati, Ohio, United States). He has performed economic analysis, modeling and forecasting work for nearly 20 years among a range of industries. He is available at mguckes@gardnerweb.com.
Related Content
-
MMT Chats: Marketing’s Impact on Mold Manufacturing
Kelly Kasner, Director of Sales and Marketing for Michiana Global Mold (MGM) talks about the benefits her marketing and advertising, MGM’s China partnership and the next-generation skills gap. This episode is brought to you by ISCAR with New Ideas for Machining Intelligently.
-
The Trifecta of Competitive Toolmaking
Process, technology and people form the foundations of the business philosophy in place at Eifel Mold & Engineering.
-
From Injection Mold Venting to Runnerless Micro Molds: MMT's Top-Viewed June Content
The MoldMaking Technology team has compiled a list of the top-viewed June content based on analytics. This month, we covered an array of topics including injection mold venting, business strategies and runnerless micro molds. Take a look at what you might have missed!
