What Caterpillar's Sales Figures Tell You About the Economy

In case anyone was in any doubt as to the ongoing bifurcation in prospects between developed and emerging markets, then Caterpillar's  latest monthly sales data will make it clear. Moreover, based on Caterpillar's numbers, investors in the industrial sector should look closely at their stocks' exposure to various industries. As a consequence of what Caterpillar just reported, companies like Joy Global  can expect some varied conditions in the mining sector, and there was even some negative news for General Electric Company  in the power generation market. It's time to look more closely.



Caterpillar reports mixed construction trends
The company reports out of three separate industrial segments, and Fools already know that in its first-quarter results in April, Caterpillar upgraded its forecast for full-year construction machinery sales from 5% to 10%. At the same time, it downgraded its view on full-year resource industry sales from a negative to 10% to a negative 20%. Its energy and transportation guidance was left unchanged. Fast forward to the May sales data and a few themes are emerging.

First, there appears to be a strong divergence between Asia/Pacific and North America in terms of construction trends.

Source: Caterpillar presentations

In addition, according to a Bloomberg research report, China's fixed-asset investment continues to moderate from the torrid pace of growth in previous years.


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