#ECONOMICS

Metalworking Activity Remained on a Path of Contraction

Steady contraction of production, new orders and backlog drove accelerated contraction in November.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

Metalworking Activity Stayed Consistent in July

Metalworking activity hung together better in July, with all but one GBI component contracting.

Metalworking Activity Contracts With the Components in June

Components that contracted include new orders, backlog and production, landing on low values last seen at the start of 2023.

Most Metalworking GBI Components Contracted in May

Four components contracted slightly more than in April, including production, new orders, exports and backlogs.

Metalworking Activity Contracted Marginally in April

The GBI Metalworking Index in April looked a lot like March, contracting at a marginally greater degree.

Metalworking GBI Contracted in March After One-Month Reprieve

February’s call for cautious optimism was well placed…market dynamics in March put a damper on what had been metalworking activity’s modest re-entry to growth mode in February.

Metalworking Activity Crept Into Growth Mode in February

The GBI closed at 50.6 in February, calling for cautious optimism.

Metalworking Activity Continues its Roller Coaster Year of Contraction

October marks a full year of metalworking activity contracting, barring just one isolated month of reprieve in February.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

Metalworking Activity Contraction Slows Slightly in January

Most components held steady in January, but new orders and exports showed ever-so-slight slowing of contraction.

Metalworking Activity Remained Contractionary in December

Metalworking activity remained contractionary at the same rate as in November. Stable contraction is relatively good in the current environment.

Metalworking Activity Contracted in November

Contraction was hard to dodge with metalworking activity expansion steadily slowing since March.

Mixed Bag Ahead for US Metalworking Economy

While what has been an extraordinarily robust manufacturing economy has softened in recent months, and the near-term outlook appears to be more of the same, the overall scenario remains strong. Even a possible recession next year does not appear to be an obstacle to continued growth over the next few years.

Metalworking Activity Stays Flat in October

The GBI for Metalworking reflects stability of most of the six GBI components that had been losing ground months prior. Ordinarily underwhelming, flat is good when it means not contracting.

Metalworking Activity Flattens in September

It has been nearly two years since the Gardner Business Index for Metalworking was 50.

Metalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction

Metalworking activity has contracted since October of 2022.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

Metalworking Growth Stays Consistent in August

All components of metalworking activity contributed to the consistent slowdown in the past few months.

Metalworking Growth Posts Another Month of Steady Slowing

All components of metalworking activity in July 2022 contributed to the slowdown in what has become a consistent pattern the past few months.

Metalworking Expansion Steadily Slows

All components of metalworking activity contributed to the slowdown, most of them for the second month in a row.

Breaking News from 2021 World Machine Tool Survey

Move over, July GBI! Gardner Intelligence offers a special update on the World Machine Tool Survey in place of its typical Gardner Business Index column.

Metalworking Expansion Slows Slightly in April

Many components of metalworking activity stayed the same in April, with some expanding faster and others slightly slower for at least a second.

March Metalworking Activity Continues January Trends

The Gardner Business Index: Metalworking saw expanding activity in new orders, production and backlog at slightly increased rates in March.

Metalworking Activity Continued to Contract Steadily in August

The degrees of accelerated contraction are relatively minor, contributing to a mostly stable index despite the number of components contracting.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

February Metalworking Activity Continues January’s Uptick

Gardner Intelligence's Metalworking Index readings reveal an overall gain, with increased new orders and production activity.

Metalworking Activity Starts 2022 With Modest Boost

GBI: Metalworking reflected greater levels of activity in new orders, production and backlogs with a modest increase for January 2022.

December Metalworking Results Extend Recent Trends

The December 2021 Metalworking Index reflects ongoing supply chain disruption, with four of the six Index components registering slowing expansion.

Metalworking Activity Reports Slowing Expansion

Will new year see additional price increases? Surveying indicates more shops passing price increases onto consumers.

Metalworking Index Up On the Return of Employees

Record hiring activity lifts overall metalworking index for October, with near-record readings in material prices and supply chain disruption.

Metalworking Production Impaired by Payrolls and Supply Chain

Stalling payrolls and congested supply chains weigh on production, as the metalworking index signals slowing expansion.

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