The ISM Customers' Inventories Index registered 49.5% in July 2012, which is 1 percentage point higher than in June 2012 when the index registered 48.5%. Customers' inventories have registered at or below 50% for 40 consecutive months. A reading below 50% indicates customers' inventories are considered too low.
The six manufacturing industries reporting customers' inventories as being too high during July 2012 listed in order are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products and Computer & Electronic Products.
The seven industries reporting customers' inventories as too low during July 2012 listed in order are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Wood Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery and Chemical Products.
| Customers' Inventories | % Reporting | % Too High | % About Right | % Too Low | Net | Index |
| Jul '12 | 69 | 17 | 65 | 18 | -1 | 49.5 |
| Jun '12 | 70 | 13 | 71 | 16 | -3 | 48.5 |
| May '12 | 70 | 9 | 69 | 22 | -13 | 43.5 |
| Apr '12 | 71 | 11 | 69 | 20 | -9 | 45.5 |
Source - Institute for Supply Management
(www.steelguru.com)
