US Steel Service Centers Reported Double-Digit Growth in January

US steel service centers reported double-digit month-on-month growth in shipments in January, along with slightly higher inventory levels, according to the latest Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) data released 2/16/18. AMM

Deere & Co. Lifts 2018 Sales Outlook

Deere & Co. has lifted its sales outlook for 2018, saying prospects are good for its farm and construction machinery.

Deere has continued to experience strong increases in demand for its products as conditions in key markets show further improvement.” WSJ

US Raw Steel Production Inched Up Last Week

US raw steel production inched up 0.8% last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 75.1%. in the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 75.9%. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 12,000,000 tons compared to the prox 12,000,000 tons produced in the like period last year.

Total  Number US Drill Rigs Running Unchanged Last Week

The number of drill rigs running in the US was unchanged last week (975), with gains in Oklahoma and Alaska offset by declines in New Mexico, Louisiana, Ohio and West Virginia. AMM

Conference Board LEI Increased 1 Percent

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased 1.0 percent in January following increases in November and December.

The US LEI accelerated further in January and continues to point to robust economic growth in the first half of 2018. While the recent stock market volatility will not be reflected in the LEI until next month, consumers’ and business’ outlook on the economy had been improving for several months and should not be greatly impacted,” said Ataman Ozyldirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. “The leading indicators reflect an economy with widespread strengths coming from financial conditions, manufacturing, residential construction and labor markets.”

Jeff Immelt’s “Success Theatre”

Did you hear this bullshit about Jeff Immelt? The long-time boss of General Electric, who took over from Jack Welch (and subsequently tried to undo what Jack had done) was apparently painting a “success theater” reputation for GE while he was flying around in private jets, having another jet following him in case, God forbid, there was a problem with his jet. In the meantime, General Electric’s share price has dropped from $59 per share to $14.00 and change. The crook resigned before this was brought to light. He should be in a federal prison getting his rear end reamed.

Parkland Shooting

So, we have endured ANOTHER school shooting, this time a 19-year-old former student killed 17 of his classmates in Parkland, Florida. What a tragedy for the families and the students who have lived through this. What is also abominable is that the FBI had this creeps name and plenty of information on which to act, but did NOTHING. How does that happen in this country? What are our intelligence agencies doing (or not doing)?

This is a mental health problem, it has ZERO to do with the gun. It is a loss of morals problem, a loss of the family unit problem, it is a lack of enforcement of current gun laws problem. I am watching the children speak to the president, expressing their fears, their pain and that is all fine and good. The kids need to be heard, but where are the questions to the FBI? Heads should be rolling, should they not?

Officer Resigns

We came to learn on Friday that there was in fact, an armed police guard at the school in Parkland, Fl where 17 people were murdered last week. Video tape shows the officer taking up a position outside of Building 12…but he never entered the building. I understand not wanting to run towards bullets being fired. Not everyone can or will, but child safety is what he was hired to protect.

He immediately resigned his position and I suspect he will endure terrible nightmares for the rest of his life. I think this might put some holes in the idea of arming teachers. It is one thing to know how to handle a firearm, it is an entirely different thing when someone is shooting at YOU. I think I would lean more towards former military personnel…my opinion. There is no easy answer to this problem and it is very upsetting to see our society has sunk so low 60 some years ago when I started grade school the thought of something like this occurring was inconceivable. I pray we work it out quickly.

Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX

I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

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.

By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”