Group Says Nation's Manufacturing Sector Expands More Slowly In September

NEW YORK (AP) _ The nation's manufacturing sector expanded at a slower-than-expected rate in September, suggesting there's room for the Federal Reserve to consider another rate cut later this month.

Monday, October 1st 2007, 10:45 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The nation's manufacturing sector expanded at a slower-than-expected rate in September, suggesting there's room for the Federal Reserve to consider another rate cut later this month.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group based in Tempe, Ariz., said Monday that its manufacturing index registered 52.0 in September, down from 52.9 in August. It was the lowest reading since the gauge registered 50.9 last March.

Analysts had expected a reading of at least 52.5.

A reading of 50 or more indicates expansion, while below 50 indicates contraction.

``The trend is toward slower growth in manufacturing as the rate of growth in both the new orders index and production index slowed,'' Norbert J. Ore, chairman of the institute's survey committee, said in a statement.

Still, he added, inventories appear to be in good shape and employment increased slightly, suggesting that ``overall, September looks like a good month for manufacturing.''

Turbulence in the U.S. and foreign financial markets prompted the Federal Reserve on Sept. 18 to cut key interest rates for the first time in four years, starting with an aggressive half-point move.

Investors have since been monitoring economic indicators such as the ISM's manufacturing report for clues whether the Fed will cut rates further when it meets later this month to prevent the steep housing slump and credit market problems from triggering a recession.

The monthly jobs report due Friday is expected to show a slight increase in unemployment. That together with slowing manufacturing output could give the Fed room to act.

Gary R. Thayer, chief economist with A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. in St. Louis, said the manufacturing sector appears to be in good shape but that the Fed may need to lower rates further at its Oct. 30-31 meeting to keep it that way.

``The numbers show that the economy outside of housing is doing OK,'' Thayer said. ``I think the Fed is trying to be pre-emptive here and prevent the problems in housing from spreading. I still think they have more work to do.''

So he expects a further quarter-point rate cut later this month.

The market, already advancing, bounced higher after the ISM report was released because investors believe it supports a rate cut.

In midmorning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 93.72, or 0.67 percent, to 13,989.35. The blue-chip index briefly passed 14,008.70, surpassing its closing record of 14,000.41, set in mid-July.

Broader market indexes also rose sharply. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 9.00, or 0.59 percent, to 1,535.75; and the Nasdaq composite index rose 17.09, or 0.63 percent, to 2,718.59.

The latest ISM report indicated that 11 industries reported growth in September: petroleum and coal products; apparel and leather products; electrical equipment, appliances and components; food, beverage and tobacco products; paper products; nonmetallic mineral products; chemical products; plastics and rubber products; computer and electronic products; transportation equipment and miscellaneous manufacturing.

The index of new orders dropped to 53.4 in September from 55.3 the previous month, and the index of new export orders also declined to 54.5 in September from 57.0 in August. The production index, meanwhile, fell to 54.6 from 56.1.

Still, the employment reading edged up to 51.7 last month from 51.3 in August.

The inventory index dropped sharply, registering 41.6 in September, the lowest since January, after a reading of 45.4 in August. The institute's Ore said this suggested ``the sector is apparently in excellent shape with regard to inventories.''