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State of Logistics 2016: Pursue mutual benefit Non-manufacturing activity shows strong September rebound, reports ISM NRF calls for 3.6 percent annual increase for holiday season retail sales Fleet Management Comes into Focus NRF calls for 3.6 percent annual increase for holiday season retail sales More News September showed strong gains for non-manufacturing activity, according to data issued by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) in its Non-Manufacturing Report on Business. Like its sibling Manufacturing Report on Business, which was released earlier this week, September showed a nice jump in comparison to a relatively mundane August. The index ISM uses to measure non-manufacturing growth—known as the NMI—came in at 57.1 (a level of 50 or higher indicates growth) in September, a 5.7 percent improvement over August, with economic growth for the non-manufacturing sector now intact for 80 consecutive months. And the September NMI is 2 percent above the 12-month average of 55.1. Each of the report’s four key metrics, including the NMI, saw impressive gains in September. Business activity/production was up 8.5 percent at 60.3 while still growing for the 86th month in a row, and new orders rose 8.6 percent to 60.0 also growing for the 86th consecutive month. Employment jumped 6.5 percent to 57.2 and grew for the fourth straight month. ISM said that 14 non-manufacturing industries saw growth in September, including Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Utilities; Retail Trade; Management of Companies & Support Services; Information; Health Care & Social Assistance; Transportation & Warehousing; Finance & Insurance; Construction; Other Services; Wholesale Trade; Public Administration; Accommodation & Food Services; and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services. And it added that the four industries reporting contraction in September are: Mining; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; and Educational Services. Comments submitted by ISM member respondents in the […]