New orders rose 0.8 percent in September primarily due to an increase in defense spending. Defense aircraft and parts orders soared 119.1 percent for the largest gain for the sector in more three years. Stripping out the defense category, orders fell 0.6 percent for the month. Core capital goods, manufactured goods excluding defense and aircraft, […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity remain strong. This report summarizes 10 data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately and therefore will be brief in this summary. We don’t expect these data sources to all point in the same direction. Our intent in […]
Aircraft and defense drove a 4.5 percent increase in new orders for durable goods in August, exceeding economists’ expectations. Aircraft orders jumped 69.1 percent and defense orders surged 44.4 percent last month. Orders for autos and parts, however, fell 1.0 percent. When removing transportation from the mix, orders rose a much softer 0.1 percent. Core […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity continue to look favorable for the rest of 2018. This report summarizes nine data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief in this summary. We don’t expect […]
Durable goods orders fell more than expected in July, dipping 1.7 percent, according to data from the Commerce Department. The decrease was primarily due to a 34 percent plunge in commercial aircraft orders. Excluding transportation, durable goods orders were up 0.2 percent. Core capital goods, orders minus defense and aircraft, gained 1.4 percent last month […]
There are no clouds on manufacturing’s horizon. Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are virtually all positive for the remainder of 2018, according to Steel Market Update’s analysis of nine data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, […]
The following article on the hot rolled coil (HRC) futures market was written by David Feldstein. As the Flack Global Metals Director of Risk Management, Dave is an active participant in the hot rolled futures market, and we believe he provides insightful commentary and trading ideas to our readers. Besides writing futures articles for Steel […]
Durable goods orders, orders for items expected to last three years or more, increased 1.0 percent in June to $251.9 billion, according to the latest data from Commerce. The increase follows two consecutive monthly decreases. Transportation equipment orders led the gain with civilian aircraft recouping some of its 11.6 percent loss in May by jumping […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity continue to look favorable for the rest of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications and therefore will be brief in this summary. We don’t expect […]
Durable goods orders fell unexpectedly in May, for a second consecutive month of decline. Orders for goods expected to last three years or more fell 0.6 percent following a revised 2 percent decline in April, according to the Commerce Department. The May dip should be looked at in relation to the upwardly revised April data, […]
Manufacturing activity in the U.S. remains robust and economic indicators continue to point to a strong 2018, according to Steel Market Update’s latest analysis. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and […]
Orders for manufactured goods fell 1.7 percent in April to $248.5 billion, according to the latest Commerce Department data. Transportation equipment drove the decrease, declining $5.6 billion, or 6.1 percent, to $87.1 billion. Orders for commercial jets plummeted 29 percent in April after soaring 61 percent in March. Excluding transportation orders, the index rose 0.9 […]
Indicators of manufacturing activity point to a strong first half for the U.S. economy and the steel industry. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief in […]
GDP growth slowed in the first quarter, but on a trailing 12-month basis has improved for the last seven quarters, according to Steel Market Update’s latest analysis of government data. The first estimate of GDP in the first quarter was 2.32 percent, down from 2.87 percent in Q4 2017. Economy.com reported: “U.S. GDP growth moderated […]
Orders for durable goods, manufactured items expected to last three years or more, jumped 2.6 percent in March primarily driven by new contracts for Boeing airplanes. Orders for commercial aircraft and parts leapt 44.5 percent for the month, said the Commerce Department on Thursday. Excluding the volatile transportation category, new orders were flat for the […]
A new study by Martin Associates questioning the relationship between steel tariffs and mill capacity utilization was largely dismissed by the Commerce Department as industry propaganda, prompting a stern response from the American Institute for International Steel. AIIS released the analysis by Dr. John Martin on April 18 and stands behind his findings. The Secretary […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity in the United States remain strong and portend well for the first half of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief […]
Orders for manufactured durable goods jumped 3.1 percent in February, beating economists’ estimates by nearly double. The latest report from the Department of Commerce showed core capital goods (non-defense capital goods minus aircraft) rebounded 1.8 percent last month after two consecutive months of decline. The category is seen as a proxy for business spending. […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity remain strong and continue pointing to good demand for steel at least through mid-year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief […]
Durable goods orders fell 3.7 percent in January to $239.7 billion, according to Commerce Department data. January’s decline follows two months of increases and is the biggest decline since July 2017. Analysts expected a decline of 2.0 percent or less. Durable goods are manufactured items that are expected to last three years or more. The […]
Economic indicators are strong overall and portend well for the first half of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing, construction, steel activity and the overall market in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will […]
Durable goods orders increased at their fastest pace in six months, gaining 2.9 percent after an upwardly revised 1.7 percent advance in November. On a year-over-year basis, orders increased 5.8 percent from 2016, the most in six years. Durable goods are items that are meant to last at least three years. Civilian aircraft orders jumped […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and suggest conditions should remain positive for the balance of this year and into the first quarter of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market […]
New orders for manufactured durable goods declined 1.2 percent in October to $236.0 billion, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The decline was due mostly to plummeting orders for commercial aircraft, which fell 18.6 percent last month. Core capital goods (non-defense capital goods minus aircraft) declined 0.5 percent last month. Reuters […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and portend well for the balance of this year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief in this summary. […]
Durable goods orders were stronger than anticipated in September, rising 2.2 percent and nearly double economists’ expectations. The volatile transportation sector drove much of the increase. Commercial aircraft orders jumped 64 percent after gaining 52 percent in August. Orders for core capital goods, which exclude defense and aircraft, rose 1.3 percent, and shipments of core […]
The following article on the hot rolled coil (HRC) futures markets was written by David Feldstein. As the Flack Global Metals Director of Risk Management, Dave is an active participant in the hot rolled futures market, and we believe he provides insightful commentary and trading ideas to our readers. Besides writing futures articles for Steel […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and portend well for the balance of this year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, therefore will be brief in this summary. We […]
Durable goods orders rose more than expected in August, picking up a gain of 1.7 percent versus a forecast for 1.0 percent, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. The increase was welcomed after a 5.8 percent decline in July. A 45 percent jump in the volatile category of nondefense aircraft orders led the increase. Core […]
Steel buyers are evenly split on how their businesses will be affected by the cleanup from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. About half (48 percent) of respondents to Steel Market Update’s latest steel market trends questionnaire expect the hurricanes and flooding in Texas and Florida to have a significant impact on their businesses and steel demand […]