As the name implies, this index measures new business coming into the firm and signifies business improvement, or business decline.  当 this index is positive for an extended period, it implies that the firm or organization will soon need to purchase more raw materials and services, hire more people, or possibly expand facilities.  因为新 orders are often received weeks or even months before any money is actually paid, this index is our best view of the future.

As new orders come in and materials arrive at the loading dock, production schedules are posted to meet the customer's needs.  Although production schedules respond to demand, they also respond to seasonal factors such as holidays as well as bad weather, materials 短缺或其他外部影响.   

The employment index measures the expansion and contraction of the firm's entire workforce, including office and production personnel.  Many firms will remain stable for long periods until significant economic events result in new hires or layoffs. 

This index reflects the dollar amount of the goods and services purchased by a firm or organization, as well as the level of activity 在采购办公室本身. 

As the name implies, this index measures industrial inflation and depicts the direction of the prices for major commodities and services 由公司或组织购买的. 

当 the demand for commodities exceeds current supplies, lead times 越来越长.  Longer lead times may also lead to price increases, and 交货时间的缩短可能导致价格的降低.  更长的交货期也是原因之一 to the stress on the supply chain, as well as the stress on supply 链人员.   

Although on-site inventory has become a dirty word in recent years, at least some quantity of raw material and MRO supplies must still be 随时待命.  当 shortages or price increases are anticipated, inventories may be increased to protect the firm or organization from 因为缺少材料而停工. 对一些公司和 some commodities, inventories are accumulated for seasonal usage.

Although some firms and organizations maintain no inventory of finished goods, some firms "build to stock" in anticipation 未来的销售.  It is obviously a bad sign if a firm's sales are falling and finished goods inventories are rising.   

This index focuses on current business conditions as well as perceived business conditions for the next 3-6 months. 为明显 reasons, the index is generally more positive when the SALES, 生产, and 就业 indices are positive. 这个指数也是 heavily influenced by the current news cycle, and can sometimes vary 从一个月到另一个月.

This index provides a glimpse at the future attitudes of the business 社区在未来3-5年. 传统上，大多数企业都是这样 more optimistic about the long term, although current events can 导致观念变化非常迅速. 虽然很多月 responses may be neutral, few, if any, participants will be negative 博天堂官方网页公司的长期前景.