The PTDA Business Index for 2016 first quarter indicates significant growth with a reading of 50.8, a higher reading than 35.7 in the 4th quarter 2015 and is the first reading above 50 since first quarter 2015. The PTDA Business Index reading is nearly identical with the April 2016 PMI Index of 50.9. 

While both distributors and manufacturers reported growth, manufacturer growth for 1Q2016 remains below 50 at 46.6. Business activity indicated an increase nearly double that of the previous quarter. Led dominantly by the distributor market, business activity in 1Q2016 increased to 48.3 from 24.6 in the previous quarter.

[Note: The Index reading indicates the rate of change compared with the previous period. For example, a reading of 50 indicates no change from the prior period while readings above 50 indicate growth and below 50 indicate contraction. The further the Index is above or below 50 suggests a faster or slower rate of change.]

The entire 1Q2016 PTDA Business Index report is available through PTDA’s website below. It includes distributor and manufacturer breakout data in addition to historical data. The PTDA Business Index is modeled after the widely respected Purchasing Managers Index (PMI^®) and tracks change in business activity, new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and backlog in the PT/MC industry to arrive at an overall index.