The supply and demand conditions index -- the number of companies that feel demand is strong less those that demand is week -- underscored the broadly-based deterioration of the data in the September survey.

The September figures that follow are compared with the June data:
Large manufacturers - minus 44 vs minus 37
Large base material producers - minus 52 vs minus 43
Large processors - minus 41 vs minus 34
Mid and small sized manufacturers - minus 57 vs minus 52
Mid and small base material producers - minus 69 vs minus 62
Mid and small processors - minus 50 vs minus 46

The actual indices contained in the latest report compare with the following forecasts for September released in the June survey:
Large manufacturers - minus 34
Large base material producers - minus 39
Large processors - minus 32
Mid and small sized manufacturers - minus 52
Mid and small base material producers - minus 62
Mid and small processors - minus 46

The central bank provided the following forecasts for the December indices:
Large manufacturers - minus 42
Large base material producers - minus 48
Large processors - minus 40
Mid and small sized manufacturers - minus 58
Mid and small base material producers - minus 67
Mid and small processors - minus 53