In this week’s roundup we look at new data coming out of the United Kingdom and Israel on their COVID-19 vaccination programs’ results. The U.K. reported last week promising data on the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after just one dose. We also highlight improvements in public perception of the pharmaceutical industry, a new executive order on ... READ MORE >
supply chain
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturing remains strong despite labor, supply chain challenges
U.S. manufacturing activity remained robust in January but faced challenges on the labor and supply chain front, according to new data released Monday by the Institute for Supply Management. These challenges are limiting production and driving up prices. The ISM’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index – a key indicator of manufacturing activity – ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Darkness before the dawn in global auto manufacturing
Global auto production has declined 32% on a year-ago basis largely because of the combined impact of the global trade war and pandemic. But as dour as that reality is, there are signs that the disruptions to global supply chains will ease as the global economy emerges from a deep slump and the United States begins re-establishing trade relations and ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Pipeline pressures remain muted amid inflation fears
Headline consumer and producer prices in July both exceeded consensus expectations, prompting worry about rising prices. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey of five-10-year inflation expectations is at 3%, the highest level since 2016 as the global pandemic has impacted a wide array of supply chains in the short-term, particularly affecting ... READ MORE >
COVID-19 pandemic drives largest drop in U.S. factory production on record
Total industrial production in the United States fell 11.2% in April from a month earlier, according to numbers released Friday by the Federal Reserve. That decline is the largest monthly drop in the 101-year history of the industrial production index, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many factories and businesses to a standstill ... READ MORE >
Coronavirus and the global technology supply chain
To understand why the coronavirus has had such a profound impact on global supply chains and the world economy, look no further than how reliant technology companies have become on Chinese manufacturers. Nearly 20 years ago, during the SARS epidemic, China’s economy was much different and less interconnected to the world economy, supplying mainly ... READ MORE >
Coronavirus spurs service disruption for health care providers, extending human toll
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has dominated the news since the outbreak began in China early this year. As the situation evolves, health care companies and organizations should monitor four important risk areas: supply chain, patient demand, workforce supply and their t function. Supply chain According to Premier Inc., a large group purchasing ... READ MORE >
Dealing with disruptions: Policy options for addressing exogenous shocks
The economic disruption caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus will be sharp and likely to linger for some time. The price war that has broken out between the Saudis and Russians in oil markets brings a new, more difficult policy twist to the crisis. It all adds up to a series of supply, demand and financial shocks that now threaten normal life and ... READ MORE >
Anatomy of a meltdown: Financial markets finally take notice of supply shocks
Financial markets across the international economy are extracting a powerful toll on portfolio valuations amid a volatile landscape. Financial market volatility has reached the point where global central banks will have little choice other than to put into place greater monetary accommodation to bolster financial conditions and to stem what is becoming a ... READ MORE >
Coronavirus reveals vulnerability in the life science supply chain
As the coronavirus continues to spread and the supply shock to the global economy grows, there is increasing concern about how the outbreak could affect the life sciences industry, especially the availability and quality of drugs and medical equipment. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn cautioned that the outbreak "would ... READ MORE >