Table 1 provides a snapshot of performance in the manufacturing and service industries related to forestry. In November (the most recent month reported by the Institute for Supply Management), manufacturing continued to show strength. New orders, production and overall activity grew quickly and employment grew, though at a slower rate. Service industry new orders grew quickly though overall activity grew at a slower rate. Employment fell in service industries during the month.
Wood products showed surprising improvement in this report, with overall activity, new orders, production and employment all gaining traction. Performance in the paper products industry was mixed, with new orders falling and overall activity, production and employment all improving.
The construction and forestry industries didn’t fare as well, with both new orders and overall activity dropping in November. In real estate, both new orders and overall activity improved, however.
Input prices were down, across the board in forestry related industries, confirming the reversal of an inflationary trend that was present from January through October of 2011.
Read more about Forest2Market’s Economic Outlook.
