What is PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index)?
PMI stands for Purchasing Managers' Index. It is an economic indicator used to gauge the health and performance of a country's manufacturing sector. PMI provides insights into various aspects of manufacturing activity, including new orders, production levels, employment, and supplier deliveries.
Who compiles PMI?
PMI is typically compiled and published by independent research firms or organizations. In this specific case, the S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is compiled and provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
What is the significance of the value of 50 in PMI?
In PMI, a value of 50 serves as a critical threshold. Here's what it signifies:
A PMI reading above 50: This indicates that the manufacturing sector is expanding. It suggests that there is an increase in manufacturing activity, new orders, and overall economic growth.
A PMI reading below 50: This suggests that the manufacturing sector is contracting. It implies a decrease in manufacturing activity, new orders, and a potential economic slowdown.
In the context provided, the PMI value dropping to 57.5 from 58.6 indicates that while the manufacturing sector in India is still growing, it did so at a slightly slower pace in September compared to the previous month. A reading above 50 generally reflects a positive outlook for the manufacturing industry.
Compiling PMI
The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is calculated through a survey-based methodology that collects data from purchasing managers in various industries. Here's how the process generally works:
Surveying Purchasing Managers: A group of purchasing managers or procurement executives from a diverse set of companies and industries is selected. These managers are responsible for making purchasing decisions for their respective organizations.
Questionnaire: These purchasing managers are provided with a standardized questionnaire each month. The questionnaire typically includes questions about various aspects of their business, such as new orders, production levels, employment, supplier deliveries, and more.
Responses: The purchasing managers respond to the questionnaire by indicating whether they have experienced an improvement, deterioration, or no change in the specified aspects of their business compared to the previous month.
Scoring: Responses are scored, usually on a scale of 0 to 100, with 50 as the threshold.
Calculating the PMI: The PMI is calculated by aggregating the scores from all the responses. The formula for calculating PMI varies slightly depending on the organization compiling it, but it generally involves summing up the scores and dividing by the number of responses.
Interpretation: The resulting PMI value is interpreted as follows:
PMI above 50: Indicates an expansion in the sector.
PMI at 50: Suggests no change in the sector.
PMI below 50: Indicates a contraction in the sector.
Publication: The PMI value is then published regularly, often on a monthly basis, to provide insights into the health and trends of the manufacturing sector.
The PMI is considered a leading economic indicator because it provides early insights into economic activity. It's widely used by businesses, investors, policymakers, and economists to assess the state of the manufacturing sector and make informed decisions.
