SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – New data shows Missouri’s manufacturing businesses are growing, and growing faster than similar businesses in surrounding states.

Missouri’s purchasing manager’s index rose in May to its highest level since August 2014.

This economic indicator combines factors like production, new orders, supplier deliveries, inventory and employment.

If the PMI is high, people in charge of purchasing decisions at these companies feel good about the economy.

PMI measures how confident businesses are in those future customers, and any number over 50 is good. Missouri’s PMI in May was 57.

“If they’re buying more product to go into the product that they make, that’s a good sign that they’re gearing up for expanded sales,” said Springfield Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt Morrow.

Missouri beat out all Midwestern states west of the Mississippi river last month. Missouri’s PMI measurement comes from 6 urban areas, including Springfield.

“This is very consistent with what we’ve been hearing for the last 12-18 months and especially over the last 6 months that they’re really gearing up their purchasing decisions in order to prepare for increased demand, increased sales and increased distribution” Morrow said.

While there is the occasional plant closure, most of Springfield’s manufacturers are either expanding or revamping themselves for the future.

“We see companies like Merrill Steel for example, just completely retooling their operations to go from supplying metal works for coal distribution and coal fired power plants to something more geared toward stadiums and structural steel engineering that goes with that too,” Morrow said.

Springfield’s gained 2,000 new manufacturing jobs since the recession. In most communities, manufacturing makes up about 15 percent of the economy.

In Springfield, that figure is 8 percent.

“Even with all the progress that’s taken place and even with all of those projects that are in the pipeline, we still think there’s significant opportunity and we’re very bullish on what we think the future of manufacturing is here in the greater Springfield area.”

Missouri’s PMI of 57 was also higher than the national average of 51.3.