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The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) declined 1.1% in April to a seasonally adjusted level of 81.0 (2002 = 100). Revised data show the index decreased 2.9% in March to 81.8.
The Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) edged down 0.2% in April. Regional output in April was down 22.7% from a year earlier - lower than the 14.3% decrease in national output.
The region's steel sector output declined 3.4% in April after dropping 6.1% in March. The nation's steel output was down 1.8%. Regional steel output dropped 36.0% from its April 2008 level, and national steel output fell 25.3%.
Regional auto sector production moved down 2.0% in April after decreasing 0.8% in March. The ...
The Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) edged down 0.2% in April. Regional output in April was down 22.7% from a year earlier - lower than the 14.3% decrease in national output.
The region's steel sector output declined 3.4% in April after dropping 6.1% in March. The nation's steel output was down 1.8%. Regional steel output dropped 36.0% from its April 2008 level, and national steel output fell 25.3%.
Regional auto sector production moved down 2.0% in April after decreasing 0.8% in March. The ...
The Board of Directors of WESCO International, Inc., a distributor of electrical MRO products, construction materials and advanced integrated supply procurement outsourcing services, will name John J. Engel, president and CEO, effective September 1. He will succeed Roy W. Haley, CEO since 1994. Haley will continue with WESCO as executive chairman until his term expires in 2011.
In addition, Stephen A. Van Oss will assume the responsibilities of COO on September 1, while continuing to serve as Senior Vice President. Van Oss currently serves as senior vice president of finance and administration and CFO. Richard P. Heyse will join WESCO as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on June 15, 2009.
For the past several years the Board of Directors and ...
In addition, Stephen A. Van Oss will assume the responsibilities of COO on September 1, while continuing to serve as Senior Vice President. Van Oss currently serves as senior vice president of finance and administration and CFO. Richard P. Heyse will join WESCO as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on June 15, 2009.
For the past several years the Board of Directors and ...
The National Association for Business Economics reports in its latest survey that its panel of business economists expects the recession will end soon, but that the economic recovery will be "considerably more moderate" than those typically experienced after steep declines.
And despite "encouraging signs seen in the last several weeks," the NABE panel said downside risks for the next several quarters remain - and include large job losses, no improvement in credit conditions, and sharp declines in home values. As a result, consumers remain cautious.
Forecasts from the survey:
And despite "encouraging signs seen in the last several weeks," the NABE panel said downside risks for the next several quarters remain - and include large job losses, no improvement in credit conditions, and sharp declines in home values. As a result, consumers remain cautious.
Forecasts from the survey:
Real GDP forecast to rise at a 1.2% rate in the second half of 2009, resulting in a 1.2% decline at year-end.
...
U.S. manufacturing production continued to plummet in the first quarter of 2009 and global contagion continues, but a confluence of factors portend a modest rebound in 2010, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI U.S. Industrial Outlook: The Great Recession, a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries.
On an annual basis, MAPI forecasts manufacturing production to fall 12% in 2009 and grow 2% in 2010. Manufacturing industrial production, measured on a quarter-to-quarter basis, declined at a 22% annual rate in first quarter 2009 after falling at an 18% annual rate in fourth quarter 2008.
Production in non-high-tech manufacturing dropped by a precipitous 22% annual rate in the first quarter of 2009. Non-high-tech ...
On an annual basis, MAPI forecasts manufacturing production to fall 12% in 2009 and grow 2% in 2010. Manufacturing industrial production, measured on a quarter-to-quarter basis, declined at a 22% annual rate in first quarter 2009 after falling at an 18% annual rate in fourth quarter 2008.
Production in non-high-tech manufacturing dropped by a precipitous 22% annual rate in the first quarter of 2009. Non-high-tech ...
Based on first quarter results of public distributors and anecdotal evidence more recently, we are in the bottom of the trough in the North American industrial economy. The optimism of a month ago that there was some traction for a turnaround has backed off. Consumer confidence has not been solid enough to trigger production levels again. I'm not expecting Q2 to show a lot of improvement.
That said, the past week has delivered more evidence on the consumer side that confidence is turning around. The Conference ...
That said, the past week has delivered more evidence on the consumer side that confidence is turning around. The Conference ...
There's a lot of debate out there today about the role alternative energies will play in the marketplace. Will it be the next big thing, or will it falter and only crack a small percentage of the overall market? Regardless of what some think about the potential in alternative energy markets, a handful of distributors and manufacturers are finding opportunity in the field right now.
According to Green Chip Stocks, the global solar industry more than doubled from 2007 to 2008, at $37.1 billion in 2008. Spain's market for this kind of technology, for example, grew by 285%.
Rexel credited strong growth in solar markets for keeping its first-quarter sales in Belgium stronger than what it saw in the rest of Europe.
3M expanded its investment ...
According to Green Chip Stocks, the global solar industry more than doubled from 2007 to 2008, at $37.1 billion in 2008. Spain's market for this kind of technology, for example, grew by 285%.
Rexel credited strong growth in solar markets for keeping its first-quarter sales in Belgium stronger than what it saw in the rest of Europe.
3M expanded its investment ...
With sales low across the industry, many companies are fighting just to break-even. However, there may be more opportunities for improving your sales than you expect. Jim Ambrose, president of BranchManagerCEO.com and founder of Jim Ambrose's Workshop, says now is a great time to retrain and reenergize your sales force to find new ways to gain market share.
MDM: Today's economy has created many challenges for businesses. What impact has it had on the sales process?
Jim Ambrose: Most, if not all, of my clients tell me that one of their big issues is that their salespeople tend to get comfortable in their account packages. And the problem with getting comfortable today is that your accounts aren't very busy. If the ...
MDM: Today's economy has created many challenges for businesses. What impact has it had on the sales process?
Jim Ambrose: Most, if not all, of my clients tell me that one of their big issues is that their salespeople tend to get comfortable in their account packages. And the problem with getting comfortable today is that your accounts aren't very busy. If the ...
If you still think the Web is mainly for kid games, sports scores and ordering the cheapest possible airline tickets, watch out! According to a multi-year tracking survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project (www.pewinternet.org), the Web continues to be populated by younger generations - over half the adult internet population in the U.S. is between 18 and 44 years old. But today 72 percent of Americans age 50-64 use the Internet; 82 percent of those between 30-49 years old do.
Those older than 44 are using the Internet more and doing more activities online, the survey says. Not surprisingly, older generations use the Internet less for socializing and entertainment, and more as a tool for information searches, emailing and buying ...
Those older than 44 are using the Internet more and doing more activities online, the survey says. Not surprisingly, older generations use the Internet less for socializing and entertainment, and more as a tool for information searches, emailing and buying ...
Many distributors and suppliers have had to trim their work force due to a dramatic decline in demand over the past half-year. But when the economy starts to turn around, distributors will face another challenge: building back up. This article features expert opinion on what to keep in mind.
One of the biggest mistakes companies make in adjusting their work force during down times is cutting too deeply and not being able to recover when the economy rebounds. They are very much focused on the short-run, says Peter Capelli, director of the Center for Human Resources at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
This can cost companies in the long-run. In addition to the costs associated with layoffs - severance pay or ...
One of the biggest mistakes companies make in adjusting their work force during down times is cutting too deeply and not being able to recover when the economy rebounds. They are very much focused on the short-run, says Peter Capelli, director of the Center for Human Resources at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
This can cost companies in the long-run. In addition to the costs associated with layoffs - severance pay or ...
Stock Building Supply's Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection filing was a picture of what many in its sector have gone through since the housing market has fallen from its peak nearly four years ago.
Stock Building Supply's filing in support of bankruptcy protection outlines UK-based Wolseley's decision to exit the struggling Raleigh, NC-based building materials distributor. In its fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, Stock recorded a $744 million loss. It had $3.5 billion in sales. The distributor filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection May 6, 2009.
James Major, vice president, finance and strategic planning, wrote that single-family housing starts had dropped by more than 80 percent since their peak in 2005. In addition, declining lumber and panel ...
Stock Building Supply's filing in support of bankruptcy protection outlines UK-based Wolseley's decision to exit the struggling Raleigh, NC-based building materials distributor. In its fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, Stock recorded a $744 million loss. It had $3.5 billion in sales. The distributor filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection May 6, 2009.
James Major, vice president, finance and strategic planning, wrote that single-family housing starts had dropped by more than 80 percent since their peak in 2005. In addition, declining lumber and panel ...
