PMI: Index reads at 65.13 for March

LAHORE:

The MCB Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index recorded a value of 65.13 for the month of March 2015, against January’s reading of 65.39. Compared to January 2015, the March 2015 MCB PMI reflects a static pace of growth in the manufacturing sector, evident by a drop of 0.26 point in the MCB PMI.

While new orders received by manufacturers declined by 1.1 points to 75.3, the production level index increased by 0.2 points to 68.3. A major shift was witnessed in the index computing prices paid by manufacturers, as its value increased by 1.2 points.

In the period covered by the January 2015 Index, the prices paid index decreased by 9.6 points, on account of declining input prices; however, in March 2015, the trend was reversed and companies paid higher prices as the index moved towards equilibrium.

The MCB PMI reading for March 2015 foretells healthy performance in the manufacturing sector and, subsequently, the economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th,  2015.

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