Purchasing's Grassroots Business Survey

By Staff -- Purchasing, 1/14/1999

total Northeast Mid-Atlantic South Midwest West/PNW

Business this month

(diffusion index, % reporting same or increasing) 56.7 53.7 58.3 54.2 53.8 74.1

Business this year

(diffusion index, % reporting same or increasing) 60.6 55.8 54.2 65.7 57.1 66.1

Desired materials inventory-sales

(diffusion index, % reporting just right or too high) 69.7 68.5 68.2 63.2 72.6 67.2

Desired work in process inventory-sales

(diffusion index, % reporting just right or too high) 56.2 55.8 55.0 50.0 56.0 54.3

Desired finished goods inventory-sales

(diffusion index, % reporting just right or too high) 54.8 46.3 72.7 55.4 57.2 51.7

Have witnessed supply shortages 20% 7% 24% 24% 22% 28%

Have not witnessed supply shortages 73% 81% 68% 68% 73% 66%

N/A 7% 11% 8% 8% 5% 7%

Optimistic for next six months 53% 59% 58% 58% 51% 50%

Neutral for next six months 34% 26% 32% 32% 37% 36%

Pessimistic for next six months 13% 15% 11% 11% 13% 14%

SOURCE: PURCHASING SURVEY