Shipments Strong in November

 

PMPA’s Business Trends Index for November is 116, down ten points from last month’s value, yet at the highest value we recall for November. November is typically a slow sales month because of seasonal factors. The index is maintaining an average for calendar year 2013 of 122, and for trailing 12 months of 119. November 2013 shipments are 113 percent of October 2012.

We are pleased to see that sales in November this year were above those in November 2012. While the last calendar quarter is historically weak for our shops, we have a nice tailwind of sales for the year to date at a 122 average for the calendar year. With sales this strong in the fourth quarter, we think that savvy shops will be lining up sourcing for the even stronger sales likely once we turn the calendar page to 2014. Have you been sharing expectations with your key suppliers?

Biggest surprise—99 percent of responding companies expect employment in their shops to remain the same or increase.

Originally posted on pmpaspeakingofprecision.com.