July Credit Managers Index Shows Improved Confidence
The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) improved to 56.8 from 56.1 in July. The readings for the favorable and unfavorable factor indices improved, from 62.4 to 63.7 for the favorable factor index, marking the highest point in over four years, and from 52.0 to 52.2 for the unfavorable factor index. The latter is below marks set earlier in the year but is trending in direction.
“The overall sense is that real progress in economic recovery is being made and the future looks brighter,” said NACM Economist Chris Kuehl, about the July CMI report. “But, not to rain on the parade, these numbers also looked good at the start of the year, and it has taken until mid-summer to regain that momentum.” Winter weather was partly responsible for this struggle, as was the significant decline in exports of American goods, Kuehl noted.