The first quarter 2018 Sales History & Outlook Report (SHOR) released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) indicates the average PTDA distributors’ index for total sales during 1Q18 was up 5.5 percent from the year-ago level and is growing at an accelerating pace. PTDA manufacturers’ average index for total sales had an even better result, up 8.4 percent from a year ago. 

The 2Q2018 PTDA Business Index ticked down slightly to a reading of 70.3 compared to the first quarter 2018 reading of 72.6 but still remains above ISM’s U.S. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of 58.1. The PTDA Business Index and the PMI are both above their five-year averages (58.6 and 54.6, respectively) illustrating the robust growth among PTDA members and within the industrial sector.

PTDA members participating in SHOR receive the results and forecasts through 2020 at no charge approximately 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter. The PTDA Business Index is modeled after the widely respected PMI and tracks change in business activity, new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and backlog in the PT/MC industry to arrive at an overall index. The entire 2Q2018 PTDA Business Index report is available through PTDA’s website below.