Optimism in the American manufacturing community is poised to continue in the new year, though with some caution attached. It is clear that the risks around the pandemic are rising and we may observe volatility in manufacturing indices until the bottlenecks around vaccine distribution are solved. The ... READ MORE >
Industrials
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. factory growth remains robust
The recovery in U.S. and global manufacturing activity continued through the end of 2020, even as new COVID-19 infections increased across the globe. U.S. manufacturing activity accelerated at its fastest pace in more than six years in December, according to the IHS Markit U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Industrial production continues its recovery
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday said its index of industrial production, a measure of output at factories, mines and utilities, rose last month as output continued to recover from the depths of the economic shutdown this spring. Total production rose 0.4% in November, slightly above the consensus of ... READ MORE >
Container crunch pushes shipping rates to record highs
Surging demand for Asian imports and a shortage of containers are congesting U.S. ports, causing headaches for companies importing from Asia, skyrocketing shipping rates and surging purchase prices for containers. Another result? The previously humble shipping container is now a star of the ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturing expansion continues in November
U.S. manufacturing activity continued its expansion in November, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index. The index registered 57.5 in November, its seventh straight month of expansion, but was 1.8 points below the 59.3 reading in October. A reading ... READ MORE >
What’s the latest in U.S.-China trade?
China recently signed a regional trade agreement – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – with 14 other Asia-Pacific countries. Touted as the world’s largest regional free trade agreement, it includes countries that make up 30% of the world’s gross domestic product. But it does not ... READ MORE >
U.S. industrial production rose 1.1% in October
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday said its index of industrial production, a measure of output at factories, mines and utilities, rose last month as output continued to recover from the depths of the spring. Total production rose 1.1% in October, slightly above economists' consensus of 1.0%, following a ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Darkness before the dawn in global auto manufacturing
Global auto production has declined 32% on a year-ago basis largely because of the combined impact of the global trade war and pandemic. But as dour as that reality is, there are signs that the disruptions to global supply chains will ease as the global economy emerges from a deep slump and the ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. manufacturing expanded at fastest pace since 2018, ISM reports
American manufacturing activity continued its six-month expansion in October, according to Institute for Supply Management data released on Monday, with 15 of the 18 manufacturing industries included in the data reporting growth. October marked the fastest pace of manufacturing expansion in the ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index breaks above 2018-20 downtrend
A rebound in U.S. manufacturing sentiment to the pre-trade war levels of the summer of 2018 implies that the domestic economy is moving briskly toward recovery. For this reason, we expect that the October Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index, set to be released on Monday, will ... READ MORE >