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Latest Month	Previous Month	Year Ago	YTD % Change	Annual % Change
				2006	2007	2008
173.0	158.3	188.0	-6.7	1.5	-1.6	2.0

Injection Molding Business Index

Data Source: Mountaintop Economics & Research, Inc
Last Updated: May 2008

The Injection Molding Business Index (1990=100) measures market demand for injection molded parts. It is a leading indicator of future demand for injection molds, tooling, and injection molding machinery. It is also an indicator of overall U.S. economic activity.

The Injection Molding Business Index dropped 8% in the latest month when compared with a year ago. This followed a 7% decline during the previous month.

This Index will hit a cyclical bottom in the first half of 2008. Then, after several months of consolidation, the trend is expected to rise in the second half of 2008.

When compared with the previous year, this Index descended by 7% during the first quarter of 2008 after a 1% decline in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The U.S. economy will experience below-average growth during the first half of 2008. This will curb demand for injection molded products in the near-term, but U.S. manufacturing activity will start to regain momentum in the second half of this year.

After an annual decline of 1% in 2007, the average for our Injection Molding Business Index is forecast to expand 2% in 2008.