Recession: CBN’s PMI for April confirms Nigeria’s recovering

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday released its Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report for April, which indicated expansion in most subsectors of the economy during the month, sign that the economy is fast recovering.
The Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing PMI Report on businesses is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives. Survey responses indicate whether there is change or no change in the level of business activities in the current month compared with the previous month.
The report surveyed 34 subsectors in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, and 20 of these subsectors recorded growth in activities, while 14 subsectors recorded decline in activities.
Details of the report go thus: “Manufacturing PMI for the month of April 2017 showed recovery, production level growing faster; new orders and raw materials inventories growing from contraction; employment level is declining at a slower rate; while supplier delivery time is struggling to catch up.
“The Manufacturing PMI stood at 51.1 index points in April 2017, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector after three months of contraction.
“Ten of the 16 sub-sectors reported growth in the review month.
“The production level index for manufacturing sector expanded for the second consecutive month in April 2017.”
“The index at 58.5 points indicated an increase in production at a faster rate when compared to the 50.8 points in the previous month.
“Thirteen manufacturing sub-sectors recorded increase in production level during the review month.”
“After 16 months of decline, non-manufacturing is at the brink of growth, business activity and new orders growing from contraction; employment level and raw materials inventories declining at a slower rate in April 2017.
“The composite PMI for the non-manufacturing sector at 49.5 after sixteenth consecutive months of decline is at the brink of growth. At 49.5 index points when compared to the 47.1 points in March 2017, this sector is indicating a vanishing decline.
“Of the eighteen non-manufacturing sub-sectors, eight recorded declines in the following order: management of companies; construction; professional, scientific, & technical services; arts, entertainment & recreation; wholesale trade; health care & social assistance; repair, maintenance/washing of motor vehicles and accommodation & food services. The remaining ten sub-sectors: agriculture; utilities; educational services; transportation & warehousing; finance & insurance; electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning supply; real estate, rental & leasing; information & communication; public administration and water supply, sewage & waste management reported growth in the review month.
“The business activity index rose to 53.3 points in April 2017, from its level of 49.8 points in March 2017, with twelve sub-sectors recorded growth.”