ARTICLES
West Michigan economy continues three-month surge
Auto sales will drive WM’s economy
Auto suppliers are still carrying West Michigan economy
West Michigan economy surges upward across the board
Local economy flat, but European recovery offers hope
Several variables will define 2013’s economy
GR manufacturing economy bucks downward trend
Grand Rapids manufacturing shows minor improvement
At best industrial economy is now drifting sideways
Economy finally slips into negative territory
Slightly negative. For the first time since the local recovery began in April 2009, the industrial economy in the Greater Grand Rapids area has dipped into the minus column. According to the data collected in the month ending July 31, New Orders, our index of business improvement, came in at -6, down from last month’s +9. The Production index also flipped negative to -5, down from +6. Because of its laggard nature, the Employment index remained positive at +18, but was not as robust as the +25 in the month of June. Activity in the purchasing offices, our index of Purchases, remained barely positive at +4 and a little softer than +11 in our last report.
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