CMI shows continued weakness

by Wally Northway

Published: September 3,2009

COLUMBIA, Md. — After six months of solid gains, the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) showed slower progress and registered declines in key indicators. There was still some positive movement in the Index as a whole, but there are obvious weaknesses showing up in terms of credit availability, credit applications and sales.

The CMI showed a dramatic decline from the levels in July, but overall the index gained and moved a little closer to the magic number of 50, climbing from July’s combined index score of 48 to the August score of 48.3.  

These numbers are a little sobering given the sense that the economy had started to come out of the recession in July’s report. This suggests that the proposed recovery is a little weaker than some of the indicators reflect, especially in terms of availability of money. The reduction in credit applications indicates that there is less willingness to lend and that companies seeking credit are being put through more hoops than in the past. The number of additional disputes and delinquencies also suggests that some sectors of the economy are still struggling.  

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