Current Business Trends:

Current Business Trends:
Stronger Growth Returns

Grand Rapids - The greater Grand
The greater Grand Rapids industrial
economy experienced stronger growth in
April, according to the results of a
monthly survey compiled by Brian G.
Long, director of Supply Management
Research in the Seidman College of
Business at Grand Valley State
University.
The survey results are based on data
collected during the last two weeks of
April.
The survey’s index of business
improvement, called new orders, bounced
to +40, up from +27. The production index
posted a more modest gain, and rose to
+28 from +23. The employment index
remained in double digit growth but backtracked
to +13 from +19. The index of purchases
was unchanged at +19.
“Our stronger statistics mean that
there are no segments that are doing
poorly, although there are exceptions
within each group,” said Long.
“Automotive parts suppliers remain
strong, although a couple firms backtracked
because of the particular components
they were making. The integrated
office furniture companies turned in a
stronger performance, and smaller firms
are also doing well.”
Long said the employment numbers
for West Michigan continue to be better
than the rest of the state. Among the
unemployment rates in the 83 Michigan
counties, Kent County reported the second
lowest in unemployment in the state
in April, followed by Ottawa County at
number three. Kalamazoo County eased
to fifth place. Between February and
March, Long said almost all of the counties
in West Michigan posted minor
improvements in unemployment.