Category: News

March 1, 2021

January Steel Production Up Worldwide

January Steel Production Up Worldwide

Global tonnage rose to 162.9 million metric tons for the first month of 2021, a 4.8% increase over the January 2020 total. FEB 28, 2021 Global steel production increased slightly in January to 162.9 million metric tons, just 1.27% more than the tonnage reported for December 2020, and 4.8% more than the January 2020 total.Read More
Manufacturing in February: Rapid Growth Checked by Supply Hurdles

Manufacturing in February: Rapid Growth Checked by Supply Hurdles

According to the ISM, U.S. industry is still bedeviled by supply inconsistencies despite growing production and demand. Data from the Institute for Supply Management show that the manufacturing sector grew in February at a faster rate than it had in January. The ISM’s Purchasing Manager’s Index hit 60.8, 2.1 points higher than January’s 58.7. ARead More

February 3, 2021

January Manufacturing Sustains Growth, Supply Difficulties

January Manufacturing Sustains Growth, Supply Difficulties

The Industry for Supply Management’s manufacturing index fell to 58.7%. Ryan Secard FEB 02, 2021 The manufacturing sector continued growing for an eighth straight month in January as the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Manager’s Index for sector growth fell 1.8 points to 58.7% compared to December. The overall economy also grew, sustaining a parallelRead More

February 1, 2021

US wages rise by 4% in fourth quarter, but loss of low-wage jobs affects average

US wages rise by 4% in fourth quarter, but loss of low-wage jobs affects average

Released on January 27, 2021 US workers’ wages rose by 4.4% in the fourth quarter with the average wage rising by $1.27 to $30.19 per hour, according to the ADP Research Institute’s Workforce Vitality report. But a look behind the number tells a different story. Average wage growth is higher than expected because of significantRead More

January 26, 2021

IT employment rises in December, continuing recovery

IT employment rises in December, continuing recovery

Released on January 20, 2021 IT employment rose by 0.5% to more than 5.2 million jobs in December compared to November, according to a report released Tuesday by the TechServe Alliance, a national trade association of IT and engineering staffing and solutions industry. While IT employment still remains down 2.08% on a year-over-year basis, TechServeRead More
76% of US companies say hiring demand will return to pre-pandemic levels this year: Study

76% of US companies say hiring demand will return to pre-pandemic levels this year: Study

Released on January 21, 2021 Hiring demand will approach, return to or exceed pre-pandemic levels this year, according to the 2021 Future of Recruiting Study published by CareerArc, a provider of a social recruiting platform. Of companies surveyed, 76% believe hiring demand will return this year. CareerArc’s survey also discovered that companies are most concernedRead More
US private sector off to strong start, but labor market news disappoints: IHS Markit

US private sector off to strong start, but labor market news disappoints: IHS Markit

Released on January 22, 2021 The US private sector got off to a strong start in 2021, according to a report out today by IHS Markit, an analysis firm. However, concerns remain, and there was disappointing news on the labor market. IHS Markit cited its US composite PMI Output Index, saying the US private sector regainedRead More
Move by White House stops rule on independent contractor classification (National Law Review)

Move by White House stops rule on independent contractor classification (National Law Review)

Released on January 25, 2021 The White House issued a memorandum asking agencies to stop all non-emergency rulemaking and regulatory activity pending review by the new administration; the memo will in effect do away with a final rule on independent contractor classification, the National Law Review reported. The rule would have made it easier for companies inRead More
Bah Humbug on the ‘Doom and Gloomers’

Bah Humbug on the ‘Doom and Gloomers’

Posted by Alan Beaulieu on Dec 23, 2020 10:40:23 AM Here Are Two Reasons Why The headlines trumpeted that Retail Sales fell in November, a move that many did not see coming. For the record, Retail Sales are on track with our forecast. The concern raised by others regarding November’s drop is that consumers have pulled back,Read More

January 20, 2021

U-HAUL REPORTS ON ONE WAY MIGRATION OF TRUCKS LEAVING STATES

U-HAUL REPORTS ON ONE WAY MIGRATION OF TRUCKS LEAVING STATES

California displaced Illinois as the state with the biggest net loss of U-Haul trucks in 2020, the moving company reported. Both Texas and Florida had the most net gains in U-Haul truck traffic from 2016 to 2019 before they were displaced by Tennessee in 2020, the company said. What makes Tennessee attractive is its business-friendlinessRead More