US Raw Steel Production Slipped Further

US raw steel production slipped further last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 71.3 percent. In the corresponding week last year, mills operated at an ACUR of 76.5 percent. On the year mills have produced approx. 70,000,000 tons of steel at an ACUR of 72.5 percent, down from the approx. 76,000,000 tons at an ACUR of 77.8 percent in the like period last year.

The US Department of Commerce August 2015 numbers for Manufacturing, Trade Inventories and Sales:

  • The US Census Bureau announced that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, decreased 0.6 percent from July.
  • Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations, but not for price changes were virtually unchanged from July.

The October 2015 Empire State Manufacturing Survey

… indicates that business activity declined for a third consecutive month. The survey indicated that new orders, shipments, and unfilled orders all declined at a steeper pace than in July.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia September 2015 Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey:

Manufacturing conditions in the region were mixed in September, according to firms responding to this month’s survey. The indicator for general activity fell into negative territory, but indicators for new orders, shipments and employment remained positive. The survey’s indicators of future activity remained near their August readings, indicating that firms expect a continuation of growth in the manufacturing sector over the next six months.

I watched the first of the Democratic debates Tuesday evening and came away with the following thoughts:

No one made an attempt to attack Hillary (I wonder why?); in fact Bernie Sanders said “The American people are tired of hearing about your damned emails.” Does he really want to be president? You have a major opponent weakness and don’t attack it? That’s not politically correct.

Hillary proclaimed, because of what McCarthy said last week, that the investigation is all “a right wing plot to bring her poll numbers down.” The woman has been embroiled in controversy her entire career…and both she and Bill have gotten away with their self-serving ways. It is time this nonsense stops.

She is a crook, she is a liar, she is not worthy of office. I do not want her leading the United States of America, what a sad outcome for such a great country. The install of a private server was AGAINST THE RULES levied by the Obama administration itself. She ignored the rules. Her deletion of some 30,000 emails IS AGAINST THE LAW for government employees. She ignored the rules. This is no conspiracy. Same as the other investigations into her actions (Whitewater, Benghazi, Vince Foster…) or lack of action are no conspiracy. She is being investigated by the FBI, the State Dept. and the NSA. Why, because she is trustworthy?

All of the candidates believe climate change is the issue of the day. Really? What about the middle east? Russia? China? North Korea? The topic of chaos in the world was not even discussed. Just tax and spend tax and spend.

They all want to raise wages for our suffering middle class, to offer free college and other entitlements by further taxing the top 1% who already pay most of the tax revenue taken in by the government. This is the problem with socialism and income redistribution, eventually you run out of other peoples’ money. Then what do you do?

Everyone but Jim Webb agreed and verbally vomited that “black lives matter.” Obviously pandering to the black vote, as if we are all idiots and blind to their motives. In America ALL LIVES MATTER… when we refer to law abiding citizens. I don’t give a crap about hardened criminals and the like (but that’s me). It’s enough that we have to clothe, feed and shelter them for their entire lives. We all pay the consequences of the choices we make in life, good or bad; we have to live with them.

Hillary outdid them all as a debater, which was expected; after all she does have years of experience. Was she that good or are her opponents that bad? But did she say, or did any of them say anything which is different than 4 years ago or 8 years ago? Same crap; go after Wall Street, go after the banks, go after the “rich”. The middle class is worse off than they were 8 years ago. Blacks as a group are worse off than they were 8 years ago. Who has been running things? The Democrats. Who has been helped? The wealthy Democrats (and Republicans as well).

Jim Webb, the ex-Marine, could not clearly state his case, he just appeared to be a novice and out of place but he made good points. He should be a conservative.

O’Malley, the former Maryland governor made some good points. He is fixated on his “electric grid” as the answer to our energy issues. I wanted to slap the fake smile right off his face. He didn’t do anything positive as mayor of Baltimore or as governor of Maryland. Not presidential material.

Lincoln Chafee looked like a fish out of water. He should not have been in the debate. I don’t have any idea why that guy thinks he should be president. Completely unfit. Silver spoon baby.

Bernie Sanders, 2nd in the polls, is a socialist. Socialism does not work. Period.

In my view, no one on the debate stage last night is capable or worthy of being president of the United States, the most powerful man or woman on the planet. This progressive thinking is BAD for America. BAD.

Elsewhere in the world

…and Iran has tested anti-ballistic missiles this week in defiance of UN regulations and probably against the terms of the “deal”…Obama does nothing.
…and now, in a 180 degree reversal of policy, we are keeping our troops in Afghanistan in to 2017. I understand the presidents’ flip on this as his strategy of pulling our troops out of Iraq has turned that state into a mess and it is more than likely the same would happen in Afghanistan. Problem is, he plans on leaving a whopping 5,000 of our military there, in a country of millions who hate the United States. What chance do these men and women have? Should be 50,000 or 100,000 troops.
…the violence in Israel continues to escalate as, over the past few weeks militant Palestinians have gone on a rampage, stabbing innocent people at will. Of course, the Obama administration on Thursday laid the blame for the violence Israel, saying they are committing acts of terror on the Palestinians. Are you kidding me? Rockets are being lobbed into Israel every day along with all the other random acts of violence. Today, Hamas called for a “day of rage”. It appears to me the Israeli’s are just defending themselves from acts of terror, not committing acts of terror.

Have a great weekend…. God bless America!

Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.

Remember these tidbits as the election cycle grinds on:

  • Fast & Furious-Americans killed by guns supplied to the drug cartels…by the Department of Justice-Eric Holder presiding. The president was clueless. No one held accountable
  • Benghazi: Four Americans killed in an assault described as the result of a viral video. This was proved to be a false narrative. This was in fact, a planned act of terror. The president was clueless.
  • No one even knows where he was as this went down. No one held accountable
  • “At this point, what difference does it make?” Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
  • The IRS targeting of conservative groups and individuals. No one held accountable, Lois Lerner is on paid vacation and has refused to testify. The president was clueless. No one held accountable
  • Hillary using a private server for correspondence during her term as Secretary of State against the orders of the president. She thought “it would be more convenient…” Though the records were due when she left office, they were not submitted, subpoenas were issued, which she ignored for two years. Finally, she released 30,000 of some 60,000 alleged emails then she deleted the rest of the emails and will NOT turn over the server for investigation.