February ISM = 53.2

We got a little bit of good news this morning; the ISM for February came in at 53.2. Expectations were for 52.3.

This ISM report is significant because we’re starting to get economic data that’s post “bad weather.” January’s ISM took a big dive and dropped to 51.3.

This shocked a lot of folks but people mostly bought the excuse that poor winter weather held back consumers. We also saw that effect in other data.

Now, however, the bad weather has passed and investors have become curious if the weather excuse was really a smokescreen for poor economic performance. Today’s ISM suggests that the weather excuse was indeed accurate and the economy continues to expand. The ISM report has been 49.0 or better for the last 56 months in a row.

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Posted by on March 3rd, 2014 at 10:51 am


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