The Southeast PMI grew 1.8 points to 58.3 in November. The increase of 9.8 points in employment and 7.4 points in finished inventory helped raise the overall PMI for the second consecutive month. New orders moved down by 3.4 points but remained strong at 61 points with 44 percent of respondents reporting higher new orders, according to Don Sabbarese, co-director of the Econometric Center and professor of economics at Kennesaw State University. 

Six Southeastern states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee — are included in the Econometric Center’s monthly regional report. Two states — Georgia and Tennessee —recorded higher PMIs while Alabama did not change and Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi declined slightly.

“Southeast manufacturing’s high level of new orders and production, with more than 40 percent of respondents reporting increased levels for November, suggests manufacturing is growing and sustainable,” Sabbarese said. “That’s consistent with 50 percent of respondents anticipating production to increase in the next three to six months, up from 21 percent for October.”

Highlights of the November Southeast PMI include: 

· New orders decreased 3.4 points to 61, based on decreases for Alabama, Florida and Georgia

· Production decreased 7.6 points to 59.8, based on decreases for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee

· Employment increased 9.8 points to 64.6, based on increases for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee

· Supplier delivery time increased 2.5 points to 57.3, based on increases for Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee

· Finished inventory increased 7.4 points to 48.8 based on increases for Alabama, Florida, Georgia  and Tennessee

· Commodity prices increased 1.5 points to 52.4, based on increases for Alabama and Florida