Manufacturing payrolls lost 4,000 jobs in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday, the first net reduction the sector has experienced since April 2021 during the depths of the pandemic-induced recession. The negative figure wasn’t unexpected after nearly six months of ... READ MORE >
Industrials
This week in energy: Solar headwinds, Willow project, Gulf Coast LNG
In this week's energy industry roundup, we examine headwinds for the solar industry, the Willow oil project in Alaska and liquefied natural gas facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Headwinds for the solar energy industry As investment in alternative energy is on the rise, the importance of the solar ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector shrinks again in February amid falling demand
The manufacturing sector contracted for the third straight month as higher borrowing costs continued to affect demand. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index in February was 47.7, remaining below the long-term breakeven point of 48.7. An index above 48.7 indicates an ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index shows a continuing slowdown
The downturn in manufacturing continued in February, according to the RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index. At 1.9 standard deviations below normal, our proprietary index implies a manufacturing sector set to lead the overall economy into a slowdown. While the overall economy remains ... READ MORE >
U.S. inventories are growing at twice the rate of sales
With demand remaining strong, middle market firms have been increasing their inventories during the current quarter, with just under a majority expecting to do so over the next six months, according to the RSM US Middle Market Business Index. Inventories are now growing at twice the rate of ... READ MORE >
This week in energy: Russia oil price cap, natural gas outlook, nuclear SMRs
In this week's energy industry analysis, we take a look at the European Union's latest sanction on Russian oil, the Energy Information Administration's natural gas outlook, and plans for North America's first small modular reactor. The EU’s latest sanction on Russian oil The European Union on Feb. 5 ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Slowdown continues
The downturn in manufacturing in the United States continued in December and January, according to the RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index. Our index has now dropped below levels of activity in previous midcycle downturns, falling from two standard deviations above normal in the summer of 2021 to ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing labor market tightens further as pace of hiring slows
The United States added 8,000 manufacturing jobs in December, making for a total of 379,000 new manufacturing jobs added in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks a 3% rise in new manufacturing jobs compared to 2021, but the hiring pace in the last few months has slowed. The U.S. ... READ MORE >
This week in energy: U.S. LNG exports, oil and gas markets, Canada outlook
In this week's energy industry analysis, we take a look at U.S. liquefied natural gas exports, oil and gas market conditions and a 2023 outlook for Canada's energy sector. U.S. liquefied natural gas exports on the rise Amid the global energy crisis spurred by the Russia/Ukraine war, liquified natural ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing posts first decline in nearly 3 years
Industry and government data on Wednesday continued to paint a mixed picture of the economy as the end of the business cycle is approaching. The manufacturing sector showed its first monthly contraction following 30 straight months of growth, highlighting the impact of restrictive monetary conditions that ... READ MORE >