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 include the United States, even though some of the ... READ MORE >
manufacturing
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 United States since the fourth quarter of 2018, led by ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing firms continued expansion in October
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 economists’ forecasts, which called for the index advancing to ... READ MORE >
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 manufacturing index – a key indicator of industry activity ... 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 growth was smaller than in August. Readings above 50 ... 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 following July's 11.7% jump. Shipments of durable goods ... 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 ahead of economists’ forecasts, which called for the ... 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 economic recovery is starting to moderate. Analysts had ... 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 2018. The ISM’s manufacturing index rose from its ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. durable goods orders accelerate on the back of strong auto demand
U.S. orders for durable goods rose 11.2% in July compared to June, led by strong automobile demand, according to Census Bureau data. This uptick further bolsters the belief that manufacturing activity will help lead the U.S. economic recovery. Orders for motor vehicles and parts jumped 21.9% in July, following an 85.6% increase in June. Core capital goods ... READ MORE >