Published
Finishing Activity Ended May the Same as April
Finishing Activity: The May Index reports continued contraction, closing at 48.9, about the same as April’s 49.
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The Gardner Business Index (GBI): Finishing contracted again in May, marking the second straight month of contraction this year.
- The May Gardner Business Index: Finishing includes components moving in every direction with the net signaling contraction, consistent with the overall Index.
- Specifically, new orders and backlog contracted for a second straight month at an accelerated rate, while exports contracted at a rate even with the past 2 months.
- Production crossed from barely expanding to barely contracting.
- Employment expanded at a minimally slowed rate.
- Supplier deliveries lengthened again in May, and just a little bit faster, sustaining for at least one month the direction first evidenced in April.
The Gardner Business Index (GBI): Finishing 
Finishing’s index contracted again in May.
Key Component Activity
Production contracted in May for the first time since January of this year, joining new orders, backlog and exports.
