CHICAGO—Power Transmission Distributors Association member companies showed growth in the first quarter of 2018, in somecases outperforming industry averages.
The association's most recent Sales History & Outlook Report indicated the average PTDA distributor's index for total sales is continuing to grow, posting 5.5 percent increase from the year-ago level. The association's manufacturers' average index for total sales was up 8.4 percent since last year.
Meanwhile, the second quarter 2018 PTDA Business Index was 70.3, down 2.3 points from the first quarter result of 72.6. But that total is greater than ISM's U.S. Purchasing Managers Index of 58.1. Both the PTDA Business Index and the PMI are above their five-year averages of 58.6 and 54.6, respectively, showing robust growth among PTDA members and within the industrial sector, PTDA said.
The PTDA Business Index, modeled after PMI, tracks changes in business activity, new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and backlog in the PT/MC industry to reach an overall index.
PTDA members participating in SHOR receive the results and forecasts through 2020 at no charge about 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter.
The entire second quarter 2018 PTDA Business Index report is available at ptda.org/index.