After Brief Expansion, 91ÊÓƵ Index Fell to 46 in April
91ÊÓƵ industry begins to feel the impact of tariff uncertainty as business activity slows.
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The Gardner Business Index (GBI): 91ÊÓƵ measures the current state of metalworking and machining activity through survey responses covering new orders, production, backlog, employment, exports and supplier deliveries. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, and below 50 indicates contraction.
Tariff-related uncertainty was felt across manufacturing in April and metalworking was no exception. The 91ÊÓƵ Index dropped to a reading of 46 in the latest GBI survey results after just one month in expansion territory, snapping a six-month streak of improving results. New orders took the hardest hit with a nearly 12-point fall from March, although the three-month average at stayed just above 50. Supplier deliveries and employment were bright spots with some positive movement.
The GBI Components Scorecard reports the monthly change rate of primary metalworking market factors contributing to the overall monthly index reading.
Reading the Scorecard:
- Color indicates where a component value falls relative to 50 for the current month. Green indicates expansion, and red indicates contraction.
- Shade indicates a value’s distance from 50. The darker the shade, the further from 50.
- Direction indicates a value’s change versus the previous period. Pointing up is always better.
The GBI Future Business Index is an indicator of the future state of the metalworking market from industry respondents regarding their opinion of future business conditions for the next 12 months. Over 50 is expansion and under 50 is contraction.
The Future Business Index reflected a change in market sentiment. While still positive overall, the three-month average now sits at 61.2.
Find the latest metalworking market research and reporting at .
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