Wholesale trade sales dropped 1.1% in August compared to July, but sales were up 20.6% from revised 2020 levels for the same period, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. August 2021 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but […]
Category: Economic Trends
Fastener Distributor Index Dips Again in September Amid Supply Chain Shortages
The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for September was 54.2, down slightly from 55.4 in August due to continuing supply chain issues, according to the latest analysis from Baird, FCH Sourcing Network and the Institute for Supply Management. Key themes among respondents in the analysis included raw material shortages, long deliveries and staffing issues. […]
Goods and Services Deficit Rises in August
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Tuesday that the goods and services deficit was $73.3 billion in August, up $2.9 billion from a revised $70.3 billion in July. August exports were $213.7 billion, $! billion more than July exports. August imports were $287.0 billion, $4 billion more than July […]
Real U.S. GDP Increases 6.7% in 2Q According to ‘Third’ Estimate
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.7% in the second quarter of 2021, according to the “third” estimate released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 6.3%. The “third” estimate of GDP released today is based on more complete source data than were […]
Advance Report: New Orders for Durable Goods Up 1.8% in August
New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $4.6 billion, or 1.8%, to $263.5 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This increase, up 15 of the last 16 months, followed a 0.5% July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7%. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.4%. Transportation […]
Chicago Fed National Activity Index Slows in August
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to +0.29 in August from +0.75 in July. All four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index made positive contributions in August, but three categories deteriorated from July. The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, improved to +0.43 in August from +0.36 in July. The CFNAI […]
Residential Building Permits Up 13.5% in August
Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,728,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 13.5% above the August 2020 rate of 1,522,000 and 6% above the revised July rate of 1,630,000. Single‐family authorizations […]
Hurricane Ida Stunts Industrial Production in August
Total industrial production increased 0.4% in August as Hurricane Ida stymied growth by 0.3% due to forced plant closures and other disruptions, according to the Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization Report, released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve. Overall manufacturing output rose 0.2%. Mining production fell 0.6%, reflecting hurricane-induced disruptions to oil and gas extraction in […]
Manufacturing Technology Orders Up 41.5% in July
U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $472.6 million in July, a 41.5% increase from the same month a year ago, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report published Monday by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. New orders placed in July marked a 5.6% decrease from the previous month of June. The year-to-date total […]
Wholesale Trade Sales Up 23.7% in July
Wholesale trade improved in July compared to the same month a year ago and was up from the previous month of June, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. July 2021 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not […]
New Orders for Manufactured Goods Up 0.4% in July
New orders for manufactured goods in July, up 14 of the last 15 months, increased $1.9 billion or 0/4% to $508.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week. This followed a 1.5% June increase. Shipments, also up 14 of the last 15 months, increased $7.8 billion or 1.6% to $508.5 billion. This followed a […]
Goods and Services Deficit Dips in July
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on Thursday announced that the goods and services deficit was $70.1 billion in June, down $3.2 billion, or 4.3%, from $73.2 billion in June, revised. July exports were $212.8 billion, $2.8 billion more than June exports. July imports were $282.9 billion, $0.4 billion less than June […]
Economic Green Shoots Continue to Sprout as Pandemic Rages On
Both macro-economic and industry-specific reports during the past month show that wholesale distribution has emerged from the worst of the coronavirus crisis that raged during the past 18 months. MDM’s recent reporting shows much-needed improvement, although gains could be threatened in the coming weeks and months as the country deals with more COVID cases plus […]
Real U.S. GDP Up 6.6% in 2Q According to ‘Second’ Estimate
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.6% in the second quarter of 2021, according to the “second” estimate released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 6.3%. The second GDP estimate is based on more complete source data than were available for the […]
Advance Report: New Orders for Durable Goods Down 0.1% in July
New orders for manufactured durable goods in July decreased $0.4 billion, or 0.1%, to $257.2 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 0.8% June increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.2%. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly […]
