U.S. manufacturing sector activity continued to slow in July to its lowest level in two years as demand and prices cooled off, the Institute of Supply Management reported on Monday. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index inched down to 52.8 from 53 the previous month, still indicating growth as ... READ MORE >
industrials
Inflation and gross margins—who is winning? Part 1: The transportation sector
RSM took a detailed look at gross margins across different peer groups in the industrials sector to see how each has fared during this time of high inflation. In this article—part of a series—we examine margins for the transportation sector. Here is what we found. The industrials sector played a ... READ MORE >
Rapid-fire sanctions: What do they mean for industrial companies?
Russia is known for its commodity exports to the world, and the short- and long-term impacts of the recent sanctions on the country are not yet completely clear. But given the wide-reaching implications of these sanctions on everything from energy and metals to airplane parts and shipping, we can ... READ MORE >
This week in energy: Jet fuel demand, oil and gas earnings, ESG metrics
In this week's energy industry analysis, we take a look at the jet fuel demand landscape, fourth-quarter earnings reports for oil and gas companies, and the first oil and gas producer in North America to issue a sustainability-linked bond. Aviation energy demand to rise in 2022 Global air travel rose ... READ MORE >
Labor shortage remains a major challenge for oil and gas: Spring 2022 outlook
At a glance Oil and gas companies are facing a labor shortage that poses serious risk to the industry’s efforts to recover from the tumult of the past two years. Some workers are moving to the renewable energy space, while others are leaving the industry altogether to join other, more lucrative or ... READ MORE >
Rising capex investments require ‘new collar’ workers: Spring 2022 outlook
At a glance Since the last economic recession, the industrial sector has lagged others in capital goods investments, but 2021 saw record industrial spending in this area as companies played catch-up. This elevated spending could have important implications for the industry’s future, especially on ... READ MORE >
Robots rise on the shop floor: Spring 2022 outlook
At a glance Labor challenges, along with the fact that capital is still readily accessible, have strengthened the case for companies to make investments in robotics and automation. The International Federation of Robotics projects the recent economic boom following the pandemic’s initial sharp ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing and energy industry outlook: Spring 2022
Robotics and automation will be crucial areas of focus for manufacturing and energy companies in the year ahead, especially as businesses across these sectors continue to navigate labor challenges, adapt to supply chain disruptions and hone their digital strategies. Our spring edition of The Real ... READ MORE >
What Biden’s $1.2T infrastructure package means for manufacturing and energy
On Nov. 15, President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package—The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—that provides historic funding levels to improve public works, including roads, bridges, highways, internet access and the power grid, as well as to mitigate the effects of climate change. ... READ MORE >
The LIBOR transition could affect manufacturing companies
Much has been written about what the elimination of the London Interbank Operating Rate (LIBOR)—the global interest rate benchmark—will mean for the financial sector and the resulting need to reset interest rates on trillions of dollars of financial products. The transition away from LIBOR will also ... READ MORE >