U.S. manufacturing activity reached its highest level in two years in October, according to IHS Markit’s Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index data released Friday. The index posted a reading of 53.3 in October, up from 53.2 in September. This month’s reading was slightly below ... READ MORE >
Industrials
Manufacturing is recovering, but employment isn’t keeping pace
Industrial manufacturing activity is recovering from the economic turmoil induced by the pandemic, according to recent survey data from the Institute for Supply Management, but manufacturing employment has not rebounded at the same pace. After dropping to an 11-year low of 41.5 in April, the ISM’s ... READ MORE >
Latest ISM data shows manufacturing activity cooled in September, but still grew
The Institute for Supply Management index, a closely watched measure of U.S. manufacturing activity, decreased in September to 55.4 from 56 in the previous month and fell below market expectations of 56.5. While this marks the fifth month in a row that economic activity expanded for manufacturing, the ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index rises for second month in a row
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index rose for the second month in a row in September as economic conditions continued to improve. The index, which is based on surveys of manufacturing activity and sentiment by regional Federal Reserve banks, came in at 0.7 standard deviations above expectations, up from ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Growth in durable goods orders slowed in August
New orders for manufactured durable goods increased for a fourth consecutive month in August, but growth was smaller compared to July, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Census Bureau. New durable goods orders were up 0.4% to $232.8 billion last month, falling short of expectations and ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturers signaled acceleration in September
Manufacturers in September reported the fastest improvement in operating conditions since January 2019, according to the U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers’ index released by IHS Markit on Wednesday. The index posted a reading of 53.5 in September, up from 53.1 in August. This month’s reading was ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. industrial production expansion was smaller than expected in August
After three months of sharp increases, U.S. industrial production growth was smaller than expected in August, according to a Federal Reserve report released Tuesday. Industrial production expanded by 0.4% on a monthly basis following July's increase of 3.5% (revised from 3%), and is a sign that the ... READ MORE >
Oil prices show unprecedented volatility in 2020, and a path to recovery remains uncertain
The unprecedented imbalance the oil market has experienced for much of 2020 has garnered extraordinary responses from both oil producers and policymakers. Oil and gas companies have been forced to reposition themselves during the downturn in order to prepare for a comeback. Oil prices in the first half ... READ MORE >
U.S. manufacturing expanded in August at highest level since Q4 2018
U.S. manufacturing activity continued its expansion in August, according to Institute for Supply Management data released Tuesday, with 15 of the 18 manufacturing industries included in the data reporting growth. Last month marked the highest level of expansion in the ISM’s manufacturing index since Q4 ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Does a rise in total rig count signal oil and gas recovery? Too soon to tell
U.S. rig count, a leading indicator of U.S. oil and gas production published weekly by Baker Hughes, increased in the week ended Aug. 21 for the first time since the price collapse that began in early March of this year. Following the 10 rig gain in mid-August, the count has only experienced small ... READ MORE >