Manufacturers come back strong in June

American manufacturers fired up their production lines in June and expanded for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic almost four months ago, but growth hasn’t returned to precrisis levels and is unlikely to do so soon.

The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index climbed to 52.6% from 43.1% in May and an 11-year low of 41.5% in April.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast the index to total 50.2%. Readings over 50% indicate more companies are expanding instead of shrinking.

What’s unclear is the extent to which a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in states such as Texas, California and Florida derails the recovery.

Timothy Fiore, chairman of the ISM survey, said so far the institute has not seen concrete evidence of backsliding, but he acknowledged viral flare-ups are likely to cause some disruptions.

he ISM’s indexes for new orders, production and employment all surged.

The index for new orders, for instance, jumped to 56.4% from 31.8%. Production saw a similar gain.
The employment index, meanwhile, rose 10 points to 42.1%, reflecting more people returning to work. Still, the level of employment remains well below precrisis levels.

“While we are seeing signs of an uptick in business activity, it is a slow recovery at this point,” said an executive at a chemical maker.

“Demand is down significantly due to COVID-19 but is starting to stabilize. We are hopeful for recovery in the second half of the year,” said another manufacturer executive.

Thirteen of the 18 industries tracked by ISM expanded in June, led by food manufacturers benefiting from people buying more groceries and eating at home. Yet manufacturers of transportation equipment, metals and metal parts and machinery shrank again.

The ISM index is compiled from a survey of executives who order raw materials and other supplies for their companies. The gauge tends to rise or fall in tandem with the health of the economy.

Big picture: The big improvement in manufacturing adds to a pile of evidence showing the economy gaining steam in May and early June. Manufacturers haven’t been hit quite as hard by the pandemic as businesses such as restaurants and airlines that serve large clusters of consumers.

Yet further viral outbreaks and a depressed global economy, that has undercut American exports, are likely to keep manufacturers on a tight lease for months to come. If demand doesn’t accelerate a lot faster, some companies might have to eliminate more jobs, further restraining a recovery.