by Juliet Jeske 6/6/21 Don Stockell, a custom home builder in Eureka, Missouri gets a lot of phone calls from potential new clients these days. He’s getting plenty of interest but some have sat down for multiple consultations, had detailed plans drawn up, only to change their mind when the […]
Uncategorized
Five Things to Look for in the May ISM Report
by Juliet Jeske May 31, 2021 The Institute for Supply Management’s Report on Business releases details on the U.S. manufacturing sector on Tuesday. Economists predict the manufacturing sector will continue to show strong signs of growth while grappling with shortages and rising prices of raw materials and supplies. The ISM creates […]
RARE EARTH SUPPLY CHAIN MAY MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE U.S.
A year and a half ago, a consultant approached executives at Energy Fuels, a uranium producer in southeast Utah, with an intriguing possibility. Energy Fuels could use its uranium technology and permits to enter the business of rare earths––a crucial component in nearly every electronic device manufactured today.
Reluctance to raise wages in restaurants leaves uncertainty for future growth
Adam Orman hoped that a raise in wages would convince restaurant workers to come back. Instead, he says, he’s seeing hiring numbers that are far below what he considered a good period in the industry. Cooper, the owner and general manager of L’Oca d’Oro in Austin, Texas, says that he […]
As Consumers Remain Conflicted on In-Person Work, Spending on Furniture Expected to Grow
Alan Desk Business Interior was about to open its second location when the coronavirus pandemic hit last March. But unlike other businesses that saw their revenues collapse, Alan Desk was able to make a turn-around with its new space. The four-generation family-owned business, based in Los Angeles, CA, sells American-made […]
5 things to watch in Wednesday’s consumer prices report
Consumer prices may increase as much as 3.7% over a year ago, which is the biggest jump in nearly a decade, sparking stronger debate over whether a growing economy and ample stimulus is igniting inflation. Wednesday’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will show sluggish progress in indexes like […]
Weak April jobs report a warning of long road ahead
The U.S. economy added just 266,000 jobs in April––far short of the expected gain of one million or more––casting doubt on the prospect of a swift recovery and raising concerns about possible labor shortages.
U.S. Manufacturing in April Dips Slightly but Remains Strong
May 3, 2021 by Juliet Jeske The U.S. manufacturing sector dipped slightly in April but is still showing tremendous momentum which is a sign that the economy is headed for a robust recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The April Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, a monthly survey of the manufacturing industry, […]
Five Things to Watch for in March’s International Trade Report
The United States Bureau of Economic Analysis will release March’s international trade report on Tuesday. Economists expect both imports and exports to lift and the trade deficit to widen to a record high as the U.S. economic recovery fires on all cylinders.
Pandemic disrupts supply chains and drives new era of techno-nationalism
These disruptions have brought supply chains of critical industries to the fore, revealing deep dependencies on China and its neighbors. The shortage has prompted a bipartisan push to restore semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, which has atrophied since the 1990s. While supply chains were moved overseas to cut costs, many companies are reevaluating potential tradeoffs in security. In light of the pandemic, government and private sector reassessments may usher in a retreat from globalization and a new era of “localization.”