Georgia manufacturing registered another strong performance in April, with the sector expanding for the fourth consecutive month.
Increases in new orders and production led the way, as the state's manufacturers continued their rebound from an inconsistent 2011.
The Georgia Purchasing Managers Index ticked up 3.1 points from March to April, to 63.8, according to the latest report from the Econometric Center at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.
The index takes into account five equally weighted economic indicators: new orders, production, employment, supplier delivery time and finished goods. A PMI above 50 indicates that manufacturing is expanding, while an index below 50 indicates the sector is contracting. The number is drawn from a sampling of manufacturers statewide.
The Georgia PMI has now been above 50 every month since last December.
The PMI rose 4.9 points in January to 52.3. It turned up again in February to 61, a gain of 8.7 points. Although it fell slightly last month, the index remained solidly above 50.
Factory activity also increased in the region and across the nation in March. The Southeast PMI was up 2.5 points to 63.5 last month, while the national index improved 1.4 points to 54.8.
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