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Purchasing Managers' Index™
MARKET SENSITIVE INFORMATION
RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' IndexTM finds both production and new order growth strengthen during September
OCTOBER 3, 2011— The volume of new work received by Canadian manufacturers continued to increase in September, according to the RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers IndexTM (RBC PMITM), a monthly survey, conducted in association with Markit, a leading global financial information services company, and the Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC), which offers a comprehensive and early indicator of trends in the Canadian manufacturing sector.
The RBC PMI found that business conditions in Canada's manufacturing sector improved further in September. Both output and new order growth quickened since August, with panelists commenting on greater demand and new client wins. Meanwhile, the rate of job creation was strong and the fastest since March. However, supply-side pressures continued to build during the latest survey period, as firms reported further vendor delivery delays and a strong (albeit slower) rate of input price inflation.
The headline RBC PMI - a composite indicator designed to provide a single-figure snapshot of the health of the manufacturing sector - registered 55.0 in September, up fractionally from 54.9 in August, and signalled a solid improvement in Canadian manufacturing sector business conditions. The latest RBC PMI reading was the highest since April, and reflected further expansions of both output and new orders.
"Today's RBC PMI figures bode well for a rebound in the Canadian manufacturing sector in the third quarter, consistent with a rebound in the Canadian economy and in line with our latest forecast for real GDP growth in Canada of 2.4% this year," said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC.
In addition to the headline RBC PMI, the survey also tracks changes in output, new orders, employment, inventories, prices and supplier delivery times. Index readings above 50.0 signal expansion from the previous month, readings below 50.0 indicate contraction.
Key findings from the September survey include:
- Output increases at fastest pace since April
- Strong rise in new work intakes
- Rate of job creation quickens to six-month high
The latest expansion in the Canadian manufacturing sector partly reflected firms receiving a larger volume of new work in September. Over one-third of survey respondents reported new order growth, with the pace of increase strong and the fastest in five months. Export orders also rose in September. Panelists linked the rise in total new work to greater demand and new client wins.
Reflective of the further increase in new orders, Canadian manufacturing companies raised production during the latest survey period. Moreover, firms depleted stocks of finished goods in September to partly fulfill new order requirements. Backlogs of work increased nonetheless, although the latest rise was weaker than that registered in August.
Employment in Canada's manufacturing sector rose further in September, with almost 21 per cent of firms hiring additional staff. The rate of job creation quickened since the previous survey period and was the fastest in six months.
The amount of inputs purchased by surveyed firms increased during the latest survey period. Meanwhile, input inventories were depleted for the first time since April. Panelists generally linked the rise in purchasing activity to higher production requirements in September. Subsequently, the average time it took for suppliers to deliver inputs lengthened at a marked pace. Anecdotal evidence provided by panelists attributed slower lead times to backlogs at vendors.
Monitored companies reported higher input prices in September, reflecting increased costs for certain raw materials. Subsequently, the rate of input price inflation remained strong, despite easing further from April's peak. Firms passed on greater cost burdens to clients by raising their output charges during the latest survey period. However, the latest rise in factory gate prices was only moderate and the weakest in 11 months.
Regional highlights include:
- Regional PMI data signalled that manufacturing sector business conditions improved in all four broad Canadian regions in September. Alberta & British Columbia led the latest expansion.
- Similarly, Alberta & British Columbia registered the fastest rate of new order growth.
- Quebec was the only region to record job losses in September. Employment fell only marginally, however.
- Input costs increased to the greatest extent in the Alberta & British Columbia region.
"Canadian manufacturers generally commented on greater demand and new client wins in September," said Cheryl Paradowski, President and Chief Executive Officer, PMAC. "Subsequently, the rate of new order growth quickened to the fastest since April. Moreover, firms raised production and expanded their workforces. Rising input prices are still a concern for a number of companies, but the rate of input cost inflation eased further from April's peak."
The report is available at www.rbc.com/newsroom/pmi
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For further information, contact:
Royal Bank of Canada
Rina Cortese,
Director, Media Relations
RBC Capital Markets
Telephone +001-416-974-5506
Email rina.cortese@rbc.com
Gillian McArdle,
Head of Communications, Canada,
RBC Capital Markets
Telephone +001-416-842-4231
Email gillian.mcardle@rbc.com
Purchasing Management Association of Canada
Cheryl Paradowski,
President and CEO
Telephone +001-416-542-9120
Email cparadowski@pmac.ca
Cori Ferguson,
Director, Public Affairs & Communications
Telephone +001-416-542-9129
Email cferguson@pmac.ca
Markit
Mark Wingham,
Economist
Telephone +44-1491-461-004
Email mark.wingham@markit.com
Rachel Harling,
Corporate Communications
Telephone +44-20-7264-6283 / +44-782-7891-072
Email rachel.harling@markit.com
Notes to Editors:
The RBC Canadian Manufacturing PMI™ Report is based on
data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent
to purchasing executives in over 400 industrial companies.
The panel is stratified by Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) group, based on the industry contribution to GDP.
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current
month compared to the previous month based on data collected
mid-month. For each of the indicators the 'Report' shows the
percentage reporting each response, the net difference between
the number of higher/better responses and lower/worse responses,
and the 'diffusion' index. This index is the sum of the positive
responses plus a half of those responding 'the same'.
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators
and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing
direction of change. An index reading above 50 indicates an
overall increase in that variable, below 50 an overall decrease.
The RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index™
(RBC PMI™) is a composite index based on five of
the individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders
- 0.3, Output - 0.25, Employment - 0.2, Suppliers' Delivery
Times - 0.15, Stock of Items Purchased - 0.1, with the Delivery
Times Index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction.
The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey methodology
has developed an outstanding reputation for providing the
most up-to-date possible indication of what is really happening
in the private sector economy by tracking variables such as
sales, employment, inventories and prices. The indices are
widely used by businesses, governments and economic analysts
in financial institutions to help better understand business
conditions and guide corporate and investment strategy. In
particular, central banks in many countries (including the
European Central Bank) use the data to help make interest
rate decisions. PMI surveys are the first indicators of economic
conditions published each month and are therefore available
well ahead of comparable data produced by government bodies.
Markit do not revise underlying survey data after first publication,
but seasonal adjustment factors may be revised from time to
time as appropriate which will affect the seasonally adjusted
data series. Historical data relating to the underlying (unadjusted)
numbers, first published seasonally adjusted series and subsequently
revised data are available to subscribers from Markit. Please
contact economics@markit.com.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries
operate under the master brand name RBC. We are Canada's largest
bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, and
among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization.
We are one of North America's leading diversified financial
services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking,
wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment
banking and transaction processing services on a global basis.
We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees
who serve close to 16 million personal, business, public sector
and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S.
and 50 other countries. For more information, please visit
www.rbc.com.
About Purchasing Management Association of Canada
The Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) is
the leading, and the largest, association in Canada for supply
chain management professionals. With 7,000 members working
across private and public sectors, PMAC is the principal source
of supply chain training, education and professional development
in the country, requiring all members to adhere to a Code
of Ethics. Through its 10 Provincial and Territorial Institutes,
PMAC grants the SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional)
designation, the highest achievement in the field and the
mark of strategic leadership. For more information please
see www.pmac.ca.
About Markit
Markit is a leading, global financial information services
company with over 2,200 employees. The company provides independent
data, valuations and trade processing across all asset classes
in order to enhance transparency, reduce risk and improve
operational efficiency. Its client base includes the most
significant institutional participants in the financial marketplace.
For more information, see www.markit.com.
About PMIs
Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI™) surveys
are now available for 32 countries and also for key regions
including the Eurozone. They are the most closely-watched
business surveys in the world, favoured by central banks,
financial markets and business decision makers for their ability
to provide up-to-date, accurate and often unique monthly indicators
of economic trends. To learn more go to www.markit.com/economics.
The intellectual property rights to the RBC Canadian Manufacturing
PMI provided herein is owned by Markit Economics Limited.
Any unauthorised use, including but not limited to copying,
distributing, transmitting or otherwise of any data appearing
is not permitted without Markit's prior consent. Markit shall
not have any liability, duty or obligation for or relating
to the content or information ("data") contained
herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in the
data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. In no
event shall Markit be liable for any special, incidental,
or consequential damages, arising out of the use of the data.
Purchasing Managers' Index™ and PMI™ are trade marks
of Markit Economics Limited, RBC uses the above marks under
licence. Markit and the Markit logo are registered trade marks
of Markit Group Limited.
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