From securing connected operations in the age of edge computing to easing the burden of technical debt, manufacturing executives converged in Marco Island, Florida, last week to discuss the industry's most pressing issues. The focus of the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s 2024 Rethink conference—also ... READ MORE >
manufacturing
Manufacturing added jobs in May, but still shows signs of softening
While federal employment numbers released Friday show that U.S. manufacturing added jobs in May, the sector also continued a gradual softening, according to data released earlier this week by the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM’s Purchasing Managers Index, which gauges U.S. factory activity, ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing activity slows in May
Softer manufacturing sentiment in May is within our expectations as elevated interest rates continue to weigh on overall goods demand. The Institute of Supply Management’s manufacturing index fell to 48.7 from 49.2, the lowest level in three months. Over a period of time, a reading above 48.7 indicates ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Decline continues in May
Manufacturing activity continues to lag improvements in the general economy. Surveys of manufacturing firms conducted by five regional Federal Reserve banks continue to show the negative impact of a tight monetary policy and the lagged effect of an aggressive fiscal policy. Manufacturing in ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector expands for the first time since September 2022
The manufacturing sector grew faster in March than expected on the heels of strong production activity and new orders, according to the Institute for Supply Management survey released on Monday. The March data, though, should not so much be seen as a sign of strength to come but rather as a catchup ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: The Boeing effect takes a toll
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index declined in March to 1.8 standard deviations below the levels of activity that would normally be expected, reflecting sluggish activity across the production sector in general and the problems at Boeing in particular. Only the Philadelphia region offered signs ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Soft sentiment in an uneven recovery
The slowdown in manufacturing continued into February, but at a slower pace, according to surveys conducted by regional Federal Reserve banks. In fact, two of the five regions used in our analysis of regional manufacturing (Philadelphia and Dallas) reported overall positive responses. Three regions ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Pullback tempered by rise in capex
The pullback in manufacturing continued into January, with the RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index slipping further to nearly 2.8 standard deviations below conditions that would normally be expected. But the pullback was tempered by an increase in capital expenditures, a reflection of the resilience in ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector in U.S. contracts in November
The manufacturing sector contracted for the second month in a row in November as lower overall demand and persistent labor shortages took their toll, the Institute for Supply Management reported on Friday. The overall index stayed unchanged at 46.7%, implying a decline. Any figure below 48.7% indicates ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Slowdown even as jobs recover
Manufacturing continued to pull back in November, with the RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index remaining at 1.3 standard deviations below the level that would be considered normal. Although we think that the manufacturing sector has bottomed, any signs of an improvement have abated. A turn toward ... READ MORE >