Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the 14th consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, according to the Manufacturing ISM Report on Business from the Institute for Supply Management.

“The Manufacturing PMI registered 47.4% in December, up 0.7 percentage point from the 46.7% recorded in November,” Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the ISM’s manufacturing business survey committee. “The overall economy continued in contraction for a third month after one month of weak expansion preceded by nine months of contraction and a 30-month period of expansion before that. (A Manufacturing PMI above 48.7%, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index remained in contraction territory at 47.1%, 1.2 percentage points lower than the figure of 48.3% recorded in November. The Production Index reading of 50.3% is a 1.8-percentage point increase compared to November’s figure of 48.5%. The Prices Index registered 45.2%, down 4.7 percentage points compared to the reading of 49.9% in November. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 45.3%, six percentage points higher than the November reading of 39.3%. The Employment Index registered 48.1%, up 2.3 percentage points from the 45.8% reported in November.

“The Supplier Deliveries Index figure of 47% is 0.8 percentage point higher than the 46.2% recorded in November. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM Report on Business index that is inversed; a reading of above 50% indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)

“The Inventories Index decreased by 0.5 percentage point to 44.3%; the November reading was 44.8%. The New Export Orders Index reading of 49.9% is 3.9 percentage points higher than November’s figure of 46%. The Imports Index remained in contraction territory, registering 46.4%, 0.2 percentage point higher than the 46.2% reported in November.

“The U.S. manufacturing sector continued to contract but at a slightly slower rate in December as compared to November. Companies are still managing outputs appropriately as order softness continues. Demand eased, with the (1) New Orders Index contracting at a faster rate, (2) New Export Orders Index essentially flat and (3) Backlog of Orders Index climbing back above 40% but still in fairly strong contraction territory. The Customers’ Inventories Index returned to contraction, becoming more accommodative for future production.

“Output/Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) contracted but improved, with a combined 4.1-percentage point upward impact on the Manufacturing PMI calculation. Panelists’ companies maintained production levels month over month and continued actions to reduce head counts in December, primarily through layoffs.

“Inputs — defined as supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and imports — continued to accommodate future demand growth. The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated faster deliveries for the 15th straight month, and the Inventories Index moved downward while remaining in moderate contraction territory. The Prices Index dropped further into ‘decreasing’ territory, signifying soft energy markets, offset by increases in the steel and aluminum markets. Manufacturing supplier lead times continue to decrease (supported by panelists’ comments), a positive for future economic activity.

“None of the six biggest manufacturing industries registered growth in December.

“Demand remains soft, and production execution is stable compared to November, as panelists’ companies continue to manage outputs, material inputs and labor costs. Suppliers continue to have capacity. Eighty-four percent of manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in December, up from 65% in November. More importantly, the share of sector GDP registering a composite PMI calculation at or below 45% — a good barometer of overall manufacturing weakness — was 48% in December compared to 54% in November and 35% in October. Among the top six industries by contribution to manufacturing GDP, three (machinery, petroleum and coal products, and computer and electronic products) had a PMI at or below 45%, the same number as the previous month.”