Logistics Data Points to Improving Economy
April 16, 2010The commercial strength of logistics providers is often seen as a leading indicator of an expanding economy. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals recently reported that the March 2010 Supply Chain Index (SCI), a monthly index of accounts receivable activities covering approximately 350,000 businesses, dropped to 7.65 days beyond terms, its lowest level since August 2008.
“Payment behavior can been seen as a barometer of confidence in future sales and demand. And when payments between partners show this kind of improvement, it provides an indicator of overall optimism,” says Jim Swift, CEO of Cortera, creator of the SCI. “It remains to be seen whether such optimism can be maintained, but it is clearly a positive development for businesses seeking what has been an elusive improvement in cash flow.”