Published

Gardner Business Index Reading of 34.2 for April 2020

April’s reading of 34.2 signaled that overall business activity conditions continued to slow further after falling sharply in March. As expected, April’s data also indicated that the disruption to supply chains reported last month also further worsened. For a second month, new orders, production and exports activity led the Index lower. These components are considered leading indicators of the Index due to their frequent influence on backlogs and employment readings in later months.
#economics

Share

Gardner Business Index April 2020
April’s activity contraction was widespread across the manufacturing sector. Manufacturers of all sizes and serving all end-markets reported further slowing business activity. The spread in the average index reading between firms under 20 employees and those over 250 employees over the last two months was less than 1 point. During typical downturns large firms have more options available to them to cope with the pain of a downturn; however, the current situation has left little -- if any -- room for firms of any size to maneuver to relatively greater safety. Read more

RELATED CONTENT

  • Enterprise Edges into Self-Driving Car Market

    U.S. rental car giant Enterprise Holdings Inc. is the latest company to venture into the world of self-driving vehicles.

  • Tariffs on Autos: “No One Wins”

    While talk of tariffs may make the president sound tough and which gives the talking heads on cable something to talk about, the impact of the potential 25 percent tariffs on vehicles imported to the U.S. could have some fairly significant consequences.

  • On Quantum Navigation, EVs, Auto Industry Sales and more

    Sandia’s quantum navi, three things about EVs, transporting iron ore in an EV during the winter, going underwater in an EV (OK, it is a sub), state of the UK auto industry (sad), why the Big Three likes Big Vehicles, and the future of logistics.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions