According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the index of business activity in the US manufacturing sector (ISM Manufacturing) unexpectedly fell to 46 points in June (from 46.9 points a month earlier). Experts on average expected the index to rise to 47 points. And as you know, the indicator value below 50 points indicates a decline in activity in the sector. The index has remained below this mark for eight months in a row. Analysts note that the current decline was recorded against the background of a reduction in production and a weakening of optimism about the prospects for the second half of the year. The inventory subindex decreased in June to 44 points (from 45.8 points in May), the production indicator – to 46.7 points (from 51.1 points in May), employment – to 48.1 points (from 51.4 points in May). The producer price indicator dropped to 41.8 points from 44.2 points. At the same time, the subindex of new orders rose to 45.6 points from 42.6 points a month earlier, the indicator of unfulfilled orders rose to 38.7 points from 37.5 points. An increase in activity in June was noted in 4 out of 18 industries, a decrease in activity was recorded in 11 industries.
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