Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in October, with the overall economy achieving a 17th consecutive month of growth, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. “The October Manufacturing PMI registered 60.8%, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from the September reading of 61.1 percent,” according to Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., […]
Category: Research & Analytics
Real GPD Grows 2%
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2% in the third quarter of 2021, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 6.7%. The GDP estimate released Thursday is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further […]
CFNAI Dips in September
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) dipped to -0.13 in September from +0.05 in August. One of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index made a negative contribution in September, and one category deteriorated from August. The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, moved down to +0.25 in September from +0.38 […]
New Residential Construction Slowed in September
The rate of new residential construction slowed in September, two federal departments said. Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,589,000, 7.7% below the revised August rate but virtually unchanged from the September 2020 rate, according to a report from U.S. Census Bureau and the […]
Fed: Industrial production dropped 1.3% in September
Industrial production dropped 1.3% in September after moving down 0.1% the month before, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Output was previously reported to have risen 0.4% in August. In September, manufacturing output decreased 0.7%. The production of motor vehicles and parts fell 7.2%, as shortages of semiconductors continued to hobble operations; factory output elsewhere […]
U.S. Census Bureau: Manufacturing and Trade Shipments Drop Slightly in August
The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for August, adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,615.9 billion, which was down 0.1% from July but was up 15.3% from the same month a year ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Manufacturers’ and trade […]
Manufacturing Technology Orders Up Nearly 20% in August
Orders for manufacturing technology in August totaled $560 million, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report published by AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology. August showed an increase of nearly 20% over the previous month and 89% over August 2020. The year-to-date total reached $3.55 billion, the highest value through the first […]
Wholesale Trade Sales Down 1.1% in August
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 […]
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 […]
HARDI Distributors Report 26.4% Revenue Increase in August
Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), Columbus, Ohio, released its monthly TRENDS report Monday, which showed the average sales performance by HARDI distributors increased 26.4% in August after posting a modest increase of 9.3% the prior month. The average annual sales growth for the 12 months through August was 18.7% percent, a new record […]
ISM: Manufacturing Sector Ticks Up in September
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector continued to grow in September as the overall economy grew for the 16th consecutive month after a contraction in April of last year, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The September Manufacturing PMI registered 61.1%%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from the […]
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 […]
