Summer heat has hit hard in many parts of the United States, making modern conveniences like electricity essential in our daily lives. In North America, nearly 400 million people depend on electricity each day. As demand increases, supply shortages become a challenge across the United States and beyond. A ... READ MORE >
Industrials
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Slowdown continues
Manufacturers across much of the United States reported slowing activity in June, according to surveys by regional Federal Reserve banks. The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index remained 1.7 standard deviations below normal, the 14th consecutive month of negative values. Our index is based ... READ MORE >
Business equipment spending rises for the second straight month
Durable goods orders came in stronger than expected in May, driven by a sharp increase in aircraft orders from Boeing, the Commerce Department reported on Tuesday. Core orders on capital goods—a proxy for private investment excluding aircraft and defense—rose by 0.7% on the month, also above market ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Downturn continues
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index dropped by two standard deviations below normal in May as firms reported decreases in both current shipments and new orders. This is consistent with the modest year-over-year decline in industrial production. Our index is based on surveys of manufacturing firms ... READ MORE >
This week in energy: FERC cybersecurity investment rule, oil prices, Canada wildfires
In this week’s energy industry roundup, we examine a new federal rule that allows certain electric utilities to recover cybersecurity investment costs, the bearish oil market and the impact of wildfires in Canada. New FERC rule for rate-based recovery of cybersecurity investments The Federal Energy ... READ MORE >
Business spending on equipment falls more than expected
Orders and shipments of core capital goods that exclude defense and aircraft spending, a key measure of private business investment, both fell by 0.4% in March, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday. It is now clear that the nonresidential component of private investment has caught up ... READ MORE >
Activity at top 10 U.S. ports signals softening economy; manufacturing activity contracts
In another sign that the American economy is slowing, February inbound container shipments at the top 10 U.S. ports hit their lowest level since before the pandemic, according to the latest available port data aggregated by Bloomberg. Inbound container shipments are seasonal in nature, and February is ... READ MORE >
Jobless claims and producer prices point to a further slowdown
New data on the labor market and inflation released on Thursday continued to show a slowing economy as it heads to a likely recession. For the Federal Reserve, that data bolstered the case that it will pause its rate increases after one final hike in this cycle on May 3. Whether to have that ... READ MORE >
This week in energy: Surprise OPEC+ cuts, energy project legislation, electricity demand growth
In this week's energy industry roundup, we examine the impact and aftermath of the OPEC+ surprise cut announcement, a proposed bill to expedite energy projects, and transmission constraints on electricity demand growth. Aftermath of surprise OPEC+ cuts A surprise announcement from OPEC+ on Sunday that ... READ MORE >
Job openings and factory orders soften amid recession concerns
Job openings and factory orders came in lower than expected on Tuesday, continuing to show signs of softening economic demand that should work in the Federal Reserve's favor in fighting inflation. When the new data is combined with softer economic data released recently, the risk of a ... READ MORE >