Economic activity in the manufacturing sector continued to rebound in April with the overall economy growing for the 11^th consecutive month, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.

The April Manufacturing PMI registered 60.7%, a decrease of 4% from the March reading of 64.7%. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the 11th month in a row after contraction in April 2020. The New Orders Index registered 64.3%, declining 3.7% from the March reading of 68%, according to Timothy R. Fiore, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

The Production Index registered 62.5%, which was a decrease of 5.6% compared to the March reading of 68.1%. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 68.2%, 0.7% higher when compared to 67.5% in March. The Employment Index registered 55.1%, which was 4.5% lower than the March reading of 59.6%. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 75%, down 1.6% points from the March figure of 76.6%.

The Inventories Index registered 46.5%, 4.3% lower than the March reading of 50.8%. The Prices Index registered 89.6%, which was a 4% increase when compared March’s 85.6%. The New Export Orders Index registered 54.9%, which was a slight increase of 0.4% compared to the March reading of 54.5%. The Imports Index came in at 52.2%, a 4.5% decrease from the March reading of 56.7%.

“The manufacturing economy continued expansion in April. Survey Committee Members reported that their companies and suppliers continue to struggle to meet increasing rates of demand due to coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts limiting availability of parts and materials,” Fiore said. “Recent record-long lead times, wide-scale shortages of critical basic materials, rising commodities prices and difficulties in transporting products are continuing to affect all segments of the manufacturing economy.

“Worker absenteeism, short-term shutdowns due to part shortages, and difficulties in filling open positions continue to be issues that limit manufacturing-growth potential.”

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