Canada: Ivey PMI dips further in December, but remains elevated
The Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), prepared by the Richard Ivey School of Business, declined a seasonally-adjusted 2.6 points from November to 60.4 in December—coming in below the 62.2-point reading that market analysts had expected. Despite the drop, the index remained comfortably above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction in purchasing activity among Canadian firms.
Along with the PMI, Ivey releases four additional monthly indices related to business conditions, and their performances were mixed in December. Both the employment and prices indices remained in expansionary territory, although the price index recorded a decline from November. On the other hand, the inventories index dropped sharply from November and entered contractionary territory, while the supplier deliveries index continued contracting for a thirteenth consecutive month.