Jeff Berman, Group News Editor

Latest from Jeff

U.S.-bound containerized import shipments are up in June and first half of 2024

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 · Jeff Berman June imports, at 2.67 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), posted a 9.3% annual gain, marking the tenth consecutive month of annual growth, following a 14-month stretch of annual declines. Total second quarter imports were up 9.4% annually, following a 15.1% first…

Services economy activity sees contraction in June, reports ISM

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 · Jeff Berman The June Services PMI, at 48.8 8 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), fell 5.0% compared to May’s 53.8 reading, which was preceded by a 49.4 April reading that marked the first time the Services PMI contracted since December 2022, when it came in at 49 and prior to…

ISM report highlights June manufacturing declines

Monday, July 1, 2024 · Jeff Berman The report’s benchmark reading, the PMI, came in at 48.5 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 0.2% from May’s 48.7, which was down 0.5% from April’s 49.2.

May retail sales see increases, according to Commerce and NRF data

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 · Jeff Berman Commerce reported that May retail sales, at $703.1 billion, were up 0.1% compared to April and up 2.3% annually. And total retail sales, from March through May, rose 2.9% compared to the same period a year ago. NRF reported that May’s core retail sales, which it bases on…

U.S-bound May imports show continued growth, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence

Friday, June 14, 2024 · Jeff Berman May imports, at 2.70 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), rose 11% annually, following April’s 8% annual gain, with growth intact for the ninth consecutive month, following a 14-month stretch of annual declines. Total first quarter imports were up 11% annually.

May services economy activity sees a return to growth

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 · Jeff Berman The May Services PMI, at 53.8 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), was up 4.4% over April’s 49.4, which marked the first time the Services PMI contracted since December 2022, when it came in at 49 and prior to that the last month seeing contraction was in May 2020,…

Manufacturing output decreases for second straight month in May, reports ISM

Monday, June 3, 2024 · Jeff Berman The report’s benchmark reading, the PMI, came in at 48.7 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 0.5% from April’s 49.2, which was off 1.1% compared to March’s 50.3 reading.

ISM May Semiannual Report calls for growth in 2024, at a reduced rate

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 · Jeff Berman As was the case in its previous edition in December, the manufacturing and services sectors remain on diverging paths, to a certain extent, in May. One common theme the sectors share, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) May 2024 Semiannual Economic…

April Services PMI declines following 15 months of growth, reports ISM

Monday, May 6, 2024 · Jeff Berman The Services PMI, at 49.4 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth) fell 2.0%. The last time the index contracted was in December 2022, when it came in at 49 and prior to that the last month seeing contraction was in May 2020, when it came in at 45.4.

April manufacturing output slides after growing in March

Wednesday, May 1, 2024 · Jeff Berman The April PMI is 1.5% above the 12-month average of 47.7, with March’s 50.3 marking the high over that period and June 2023 marking the lowest, at 46.4.

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