Gardner Business Index for April Falls Slightly
The GBI fell slightly after an 8-month trend of accelerating expansion. The latest reading was supported by readings for supplier deliveries, production and new orders but weighed down by employment and exports.
#economics

The latest data signaled that several important changes occurred in the industry during April. Backlog activity readings remain at all-time highs and are presently about 2 points above the prior peak achieved in 2018.
The April reading of the Gardner Business Index (62.7) declined for the first time since November 2020. The slight decline from the prior month’s revised 63.3 reading resulted from a slowing acceleration in new orders and a slight contraction in export orders. Backlog and employment activity both signaled a slight accelerating expansion in activity which was offset by the slowing expansion of production activity. Read more
RELATED CONTENT
-
In B2B Market Research, It’s About Quality, Not Quantity
Online market research tools offer a cost-effective way to gain insight into smaller B2B customer bases. In Part 1 of this 3-part blog, we covered the strategic underpinnings of market research for SMBs; the what and why. In part #2, we get down to the hows. Specifically, online survey best practices. Simple, well-defined questions can be deployed on a DIY basis. If more complex, a hybrid of DIY and professional assistance might be in order.
-
Understanding Brand Affinity
An approach that seems to help understand customer behavior regarding brand loyalty and insistence is the work done by experts who look at customer brand involvement as a combination of involvement and emotional content. An understanding of customer behavior finds that insistence for brands will vary based on either the brand's personality or the brand's reflection of the buyer's personality. There is an important distinction between identification with a brand and a belief that the brand identifies with you.
-
5 Reasons Why Relationship Marketing is Important in Business
Business has changed since social media has arrived on the scene. Businesses have to change their focus and concentrate on building relationships with people in order to empower their brand and build lasting relationships that will result in long term profits.