The US Logistics Managers’ Index rose to 70.2 in September from 66.6 in August. Transport and warehouse capacity readings both signalled contraction, while transport prices reached 92.7. Inventory levels and inventory costs increased. These are survey index readings rather than percentage changes in prices; the transport capacity measure has indicated contraction for ten consecutive months.
The US Logistics Managers’ Index, a monthly sentiment survey of supply-chain executives, reached 70.2 in September, compared with 66.6 in August. Its 3.6-point increase put the reading at the second-highest level in 4 years, behind June’s 71.1. Readings above 50 indicate expansion and those below that level indicate contraction. The measures describe survey conditions, with price indices expressed as index readings.[1], [2]
Transportation capacity fell from 40 to 34.4, a decline of 5.6 points, and has signalled contraction for 10 months. Transportation utilisation eased from 70.6 to 66.1. The transportation prices index rose from 90 to 92.7, gaining 2.7 points. It has reached at least 90 in 5 of the last 6 months. Aggregate logistics costs reached 246.1, an increase of 2.5 points from August.[1], [2]
Inventory levels increased from 52.8 to 58.9, while inventory costs rose from 78.6 to 79.9. Warehousing capacity fell from 53.5 to 39.3, a 14.2-point drop reported as the fastest contraction since March 2022. Warehousing utilisation rose from 59.6 to 64.3. The warehouse prices reading moved down from 75 to 73.5. The survey covers warehousing alongside the transportation and inventory indicators.[1], [2]
