The Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) dropped to 55.5 from 56.3, indicating that Metro Detroit\'s economy grew at a slightly slower rate in January. This latest PMI value reveals a growing economy each of the last 12 months, indicating that the \"Great Recession\" of the past three years is finally over. Administered jointly by faculty from the School of Business Administration at Wayne State University and the local chapter of the Institute for Supply Management, the index takes into account factors such as production, new orders, inventories of raw materials and finished goods, employment, vendor deliveries and commodity prices.

http://www.manufacturing.net/News/2011/02/Other-Manufacturing-Southeast-Michigan-PMI-Dropped-In-January/
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/01/purchasing-managers-report-slightly-slower-growth/