The Georgia PMI sprung back to its six-month average of 55.7 with a reading of 55.5 for the month of January. New orders and production led this adjustment with increases of 13.4 points and 13.6 points, respectively. These numbers, along with 68 percent of respondents anticipating higher production in the next three to six months, suggest sustainable growth for the first quarter of 2015.

Volatility was fairly pronounced for December and January, especially for new orders and production, according to Don Sabbarese, director emeritus of the Econometric Center and professor of economics at Kennesaw State University.

“Such one-month adjustments, while not normal, do occur and can obscure the trend for manufacturing,” Sabbarese said. “January’s recovery to its-six month trend supports just such an occurrence. Georgia’s manufacturing is entering 2015 with what appears to be sustainable growth.”

Other highlights from the January PMI:

• New orders up 13.4 points to 54.5, 2.9 points above its six-month average

• Production up 13.6 points to 63.6, 1.4 points above its six-month average

• Employment up 3.2 points to 59.1, 1.9 points above its six-month average

• Supplier delivery up 6.1 points to 59.1, 4.4 points above its six-month average

• Finished inventory down 6.1 points to 40.9 points, 3.4 points below its six-month average

• Commodity prices down 4.8 points to 36.4, 12.4 points below its six-month average