US - Purchasing Managers Index (PMI

United State's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a key gauge of economic growth & factory output , rose for the 17th successive month in December 2010.

Source: Institute of Supply Management (ISM)

A PMI over 50% indicates that the Manufacturing Economy is generally expanding while anything below 50% suggests that the economy is contracting.

PMI data also suggest that Overall Economy, grew 20th consecutive month, as PMI in excess of 42%, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy