The Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index fell to 51.7 in February from 55.3 in January, reflecting a drop in new orders. A reading above 50 reflects an expanding economy, and this was the 35th time in the past 36 months that the index has been above that threshold. "The change in the new-orders index is somewhat troubling, because if new orders contract over the long haul, other elements and the index itself will likely show contraction," said Ken Doherty, a member of the Institute for Supply Management-Southeast Michigan and an assistant vice president for procurement and strategic sourcing at Wayne State University. "It's not cause for alarm, just something to keep our eye on."

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130306/NEWS/130309925/regional-purchasing-index-reflects-drop-in-new-orders
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