A View from the Top
Summit Steel President Ross Bushman offers a weekly summary of data and observations regarding the metals industry news, market conditions and their global and domestic impact.
Feel free to contact Ross with your thoughts or comments.
June 2019
General Business Conditions Index Largest Monthly Decline on Record
General Business Conditions Index Largest Monthly Decline on Record The headline general business conditions index largest monthly decline on record plummeted twenty-six points in June, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Empire State Manufacturing Survey for June 2019 [...]
Industrial Production Rebounded
Industrial Production Rebounded in May Industrial production rebounded 0.4 percent in May, its first increase this year. Challenges remain for the manufacturing sector which will likely keep the trend in industrial production weak. Wells Fargo US Drill Rigs Running Dropped Last [...]
New Orders Increased for First Time in 3 Months
New Orders Increased for First Time in 3 Months New Orders increased for the first time in three months, but the increase was not large enough to offset last month's fall. Production picked up to match its three-month average but was significantly [...]
May 2019
LEI Increased 3 Consecutive Months
LEI Increased 3 Consecutive Months The LEI increased 3 consecutive months, according to the Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the US, which showed an increase of 0.2 percent in April following a 0.3 percent increase in March and a [...]
US-Imposed Tariffs Ended on Steel and Aluminum Imported from Canada and Mexico
US-Imposed Tariffs Ended on Steel and Aluminum Imported from Canada and Mexico US-imposed tariffs ended on steel and aluminum imported from Canada and Mexico. Just in from the Wall Street Journal 2:48pm 5/17/19: The Trump Administration has reached agreements with Canada and [...]
Small Business Optimism Rebounded to All-Time Highs
Small Business Optimism Rebounded to All-Time Highs Small business optimism rebounded to new all-time highs this spring after tumbling 11 points earlier this year. The Fed's pivot away from further rate increases earlier this year appears to have alleviated many of the [...]
Expectations Index Increased in March
Expectations Index Increased in March Based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions, the Expectations Index increased to 103.0 from 98.3 in March. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index improved in April after decreasing in March. Consumer [...]
April 2019
Real GDP Increased 3.2%
Real GDP Increased 3.2% Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP increased 2.2 [...]
Business Activity Grew Modestly
Business Activity Grew Modestly in NY State in April Business activity grew modestly in New York State in the month of April, reports The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index rose [...]
Business Optimism Remains Elevated
Business Optimism Remains Elevated The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.1 point in March. While the index has fallen from lofty highs of recent years, business optimism remains elevated and businesses continue to report plans [...]
Hourly Wages Grew 3.2% from a Year Earlier
Hourly Wages Grew 3.2% from a Year Earlier Hourly wages grew 3.2% from a year earlier, as hiring in the US sprang back in March and the unemployment rate remained at a historically low level, underscoring that the labor market remains [...]
March 2019
Precision Machining Index Rebounded
Precision Machining Index Rebounded Registering 56.2 for January 2019, the Gardner Business Index (GBI): Precision Machining Index rebounded from December's two year low reading. Over the 2017 and 2018 calendar years, the Production Machining Index averaged 56.2, marking the fastest and [...]
Manufacturing Conditions Improved in March
Manufacturing Conditions Improved in March The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its March 2019 Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey and reports manufacturing conditions improved in the region this month. The indicators for general activity, new orders and shipments returned to positive [...]
Consumer Spending Bounced Back
Consumer Spending Bounced Back in January January retail sales showed that consumer spending bounced back in January but not enough to offset a weak December. Wells Fargo Small Businesses Remain Upbeat About Economy The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small [...]