Gardner Business Index Composites Fabricating Drops to 51.3 in September as Production and New Orders Retreat

The Gardner Business Index for composites fabricating fell more than 4.5 points to 51.3 in September, its weakest reading of the year but still the ninth consecutive month of expansion. Production dropped more than 12 points and new orders over 9, while employment and backlog slipped below 50.0 and exports weakened to 42.4. Supplier deliveries rose to 65.2 and material prices jumped to 83.3, while the Future Business Index posted a 3-month average of 70.0.