Inventories

Manufacturers' inventories grew for the seventh consecutive month in January, and at a slightly faster rate as the Inventories Index registered 52.4 percent. The index is 0.6 percentage point higher than the seasonally adjusted 51.8 percent reported in December. An Inventories Index greater than 42.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

The nine industries reporting higher inventories in January — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. The seven industries reporting decreases in inventories in January — listed in order — are: Primary Metals; Petroleum & Coal Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Transportation Equipment.