ISM’s Backlog of Orders Index registered 57.5 percent in April, 0.5 percentage point lower than the 58 percent reported in March. Of the 82 percent of respondents who reported their backlog of orders, 31 percent reported greater backlogs, 16 percent reported smaller backlogs, and 53 percent reported no change from March.

The 10 industries reporting increased order backlogs in April — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The three industries that reported decreases in order backlogs during April are: Machinery; Chemical Products; and Primary Metals.