Operating conditions improve at fastest pace since September 2014

December PMITM data from IHS Markit signalled a marked improvement in operating conditions across the U.S. manufacturing sector. The upturn was the sharpest since September 2014. Although supported by further substantial increases in output and new orders, the headline figure was pushed higher by severe supply chain disruption. Amid a significant deterioration in vendor performance, cost burdens and selling prices soared, as firms sought to partially pass on higher input prices. Output expectations moderated slightly, however, as the post-election spike eased and virus cases surged once again.

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit final U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI™) posted 57.1 in December, up from 56.7 in November, to signal the steepest improvement in the health of the U.S. manufacturing sector for over six years. The headline figure was also up from the earlier released 'flash' reading of 56.5.

Production growth remained marked in December, despite the rate of expansion easing slightly from November's recent high. The pace of increase was the second-strongest since March 2015. Companies continued to link the rise to the release of pent-up demand, but some did temper this by stating that greater virus cases dampened output growth at the end of 2020.

Similarly, the rate of expansion in new orders softened in December, as some firms reported that supplier delays and reduced capacity due to additional coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions had led to order cancellations. Nonetheless, the upturn was the second-sharpest since November 2018 and steep overall.