Imports of materials by manufacturers expanded in April as the Imports Index registered 58 percent, 1 percentage point higher than the 57 percent reported in March. This is the eighth consecutive month of growth in imports.

The nine industries reporting growth in imports during the month of April — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Chemical Products. The only industry reporting a decrease in imports during April is Computer & Electronic Products.