IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Manufacturing in the Inland Empire surged in March, despite high gas prices and the disruption of some supply chains caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The region’s purchasing managers index last month was 62.2, seven and one half points higher than February’s index, according to data released Monday by the Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis at Cal State San Bernardino.
The region’s index has now topped 50 for 129 consecutive months, meaning local manufacturing and the Inland economy has been expanding during that time.
Production and new orders, both key elements of the index, were up last month, as were new orders. Employment was also up, with several businesses reporting that they hired permanent employees as opposed to temporary ones in March.
Inflation was still a factor, although not as much at it has been in recent months: the commodity price index in Riverside and San Bernardino counties rose only two points between February and March, according to the index.
