The Real Economy Blog

manufacturing

U.S. industrial production falls a sharp 0.8% in October

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Those who are making the case that U.S. industrial production has bottomed may want to rethink that overly optimistic statement. While auto production will undoubtedly rebound in November, the problems at Boeing surrounding the 737 Max and the uncertainty tax imposed on firms caused by the trade conflict with China have knocked the air out of domestic ... READ MORE >

ISM Manufacturing Index continues to contract

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The October ISM Manufacturing Index continued to contract in October, though it improved to 48.3 from September's reading of 47.8, implying a modestly slower pace of contraction in domestic manufacturing sentiment. The forward-looking new orders index improved to 49.1 from 47.3. Both are in line with our RSM Manufacturing Outlook Index, which stands at ... READ MORE >

US manufacturing activity hits 10-year low point

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Contraction in U.S. manufacturing is continuing, with activity reaching a ten-year low in September, as economic and political uncertainty weigh on the industrial sector. According to the latest Institute for Supply Management report, manufacturing reached its lowest point since June 2009 after a second straight month of slowing. The index registered ... READ MORE >

Latest ISM purchasing managers index signals potential recessionary territory for manufacturing sector

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The Institute for Supply Management purchasing managers index—a key gauge of U.S. factory activity—dropped to 49.1 in August, from 51.2 a month earlier, hinting at the potential onset of an industrial recession. The index was pulled lower by slowing global growth due to continued economic uncertainty over trade issues. A number below 50 indicates the ... READ MORE >

RSM Brexit Stress Index: Factoring in longer-term issues

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The RSM Brexit Stress Index ended higher again this week on increased volatility. The composite index, which measures economic stress surrounding Britain’s impending departure from the European Union, closed at 1.74 on Friday from 1.64 a week ago. The foreign exchange market remains focused on Germany’s manufacturing recession and the direction of ... READ MORE >

US manufacturing–slipping away

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The U.S. manufacturing sector slipped closer to contractionary terrain in July, which in our estimation reaffirms the decision by the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its July meeting on Wednesday. The top line sentiment index in the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing survey declined to 51.2 from 51.7 a month earlier, ... READ MORE >

New RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index points to manufacturing slowdown, recession risk

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A new manufacturing index from RSM has been declining on trend for 14 months since peaking in June 2018, and has been negative since December of last year. The performance of the new measure, the RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index, suggests the potential for negative growth in manufacturing sales in the months ahead. The composite index is based on ... READ MORE >

Central banks brace for economic slowdown as manufacturing reflects contraction

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A slowing global economy and declining bond yields across the developed world—some negative—portend a deteriorating business climate ahead. To combat this broad slowdown, global central banks are shifting monetary policy toward more accommodative stances that include real negative rates, nominal negative rates, large-scale asset purchases and possibly ... READ MORE >