The PMI, a measure of manufacturing strength from the Institute of Supply Management, posted a July 2017 score of 56.3 indicating continued expansion (a score above 50 indicates growth). Although the level is down slightly from 57.8 in June—the second highest reading in six years—the July PMI still signals strength. New Orders, Production, Employment and other constituent indexes also indicated solid growth, albeit at a slightly slower pace than June, as did 15 of 18 manufacturing sectors tracked by the survey.
