Production

The October Services PMI, at 52.4 (a reading over 50.0 or above represents expansion and below 50 indicates contraction), increased 2.4% over September's 50.0 reading, which was preceded by expansion in 13 of the previous 14 months before September.

In its monthly Manufacturing Report on Business, ISM said that the report’s key metric, the PMI, was 61.1 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), up 0.3% compared to October’s 60.8 reading. This represented the 18th consecutive month of growth, at a faster rate, coupled with November also representing the 18th consecutive month of growth for the overall economy.

Locus’ multipronged approach to supply chain management is helping companies achieve high levels of efficiency and productivity in a world where e-commerce and omni-channel distribution demand it.

Business prospects are improving. However, companies are still under terrific pressure to hold down costs. Many have done an admirable job, but continue to be daunted by one of our time’s most-vexing cost-management challenges: wildly fluctuating oil prices.