Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 7/7/21 Key Takeaway: The June seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) moderated slightly at 55.8, but remains solidly in expansionary territory. Driving the slight m/m contraction was a decline in both the sales and employment indexes. Respondent commentary focused on broad-based inflationary […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 6/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) showed market conditions improved at an accelerating rate in May with a reading of 61.8, remaining above 50 and with strong m/m improvement. Respondent commentary focused on continued robust sales/order activity, however, […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 5/5/21 Key Takeaway: The April seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) 58.7 showed market conditions cooled off from the frenetic pace seen in February and March as supply chain constraints inhibited growth. Respondent commentary indicates underlying demand remains strong but servicing all […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 4/7/21 Key Takeaway: The March seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was essentially stable m/m at 66.0, implying conditions remained at the strong pace seen in February. The sales index remained at very high levels as respondents continue to report more demand […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 3/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for February saw strong m/m improvement with a reading of 66.1. The sales index surged as two-thirds of respondents saw sales that were above seasonal expectations in a normally seasonally softer month. […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 2/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for January came in at 57.7, moderating slightly from last month’s very strong December reading but still showing nice growth (well above a neutral 50 reading). The sales index saw sustained strength […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 1/8/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for December came in at 62.6, showing nice m/m improvement and signaling a strong end to the year. The sales index saw similar strength with about two thirds of respondents seeing better-than-seasonally […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 10/4/20 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for September was 52.0, returning to growth after last month’s slight contractionary reading (49.2). An improvement in the sales and employment indexes drove the m/m improvement. Looking forward, the Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 9/4/20 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for August was 49.2, implying relatively stable momentum with July (near a neutral 50 reading). Looking at the drivers of the overall m/m moderation in the FDI, a decrease in the sales […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA 8/5/20 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for July was 54.6, consistent with improving momentum (above 50 reading) but at a slower rate vs. the improvement seen in June (FDI decreased m/ m). As a diffusion index, the 54.6 reading indicates the trajectory […]