| Latest Month |
Previous Month |
Year Ago |
YTD % Change |
Annual % Change |
| 2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| 151.0 |
145.5 |
172.5 |
-9.0 |
-1.6 |
-8.0 |
-2.0 |
Injection Molding Business Index
Data Source: Mountaintop Economics & Research, Inc
Last Updated: November 2008
The Injection Molding Business Index (1990=100) measures market demand for injection molded parts. It is a leading indicator of future demand for injection molds, tooling, and injection molding machinery. It is also an indicator of overall U.S. economic activity.
 The Injection Molding Business Index declined 12% in the latest month when compared with a year ago. This followed a 22% drop during the previous month.
 This Index is now expected to hit a cyclical bottom in the first quarter of 2009. After several months of consolidation, the trend is expected to rise in the second half of 2009.
When compared with the previous year, this Index descended 16% during the third quarter of 2008 after a 4% decline in the second quarter.
Other Injection Molding Indicators
End Market
Tracker & Forecaster
The U.S. economy will experience below-average growth through the first half of 2009. This will curb demand for injection molded products in the near-term, but U.S. manufacturing activity will start to regain momentum in the second half of 2009.
We have pushed out the starting point for the next recovery phase and lowered our forecast for this year and next. After an annual decline of 1% in 2007, the average for our Injection Molding Business Index is forecast to fall 8% in 2008 and another 2% in 2009.
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