Economic Data and Growth
Factory Output Stalls, with Mixed Results Across Market Groups
July 20, 2026Industrial production edged up 0.1% in June, while manufacturing output stayed the same after ticking up 0.1% in May. At 97.9% of its 2017 average, manufacturing production moved up 1.1% from June 2025. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was 75.7%, down slightly from 75.8% in May but up 1.1% over the past year. Capacity utilization remained…
Wholesale Prices Retreat After Energy Goods Reverse Course
July 20, 2026The Producer Price Index for final demand (also known as wholesale prices) declined 0.3% over the month in June after rising 0.6% in May. Over the year, producer prices increased 5.5%, down from the 6.0% gain in May. Meanwhile, prices for final demand excluding foods, energy and trade services climbed 5.1% from June 2025, a…
Inflation Eases After Energy Prices Drop
July 20, 2026In June, consumer prices decreased 0.4% from May, the largest monthly decline since April 2020, but rose 3.5% over the year, down from the 4.2% annual rise in May. Core CPI, which excludes more volatile energy and food prices, stayed the same in June but increased 2.6% over the year, down from the 2.9% 12-month…
Home Price Growth Remains Muted Despite Spring Gains
July 6, 2026In April, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index recorded a 0.8% annual gain, up slightly from a 0.7% rise in March. The 10-City Composite increased 1.8%, up from 1.5% the previous month, while the 20-City Composite moved up 1.1% year-over-year, up from 0.9% in March. Chicago again posted the highest annual gain…
Consumers See a Brighter Outlook, Even with Current Conditions Under Strain
July 6, 2026Consumer confidence inched up 0.6 points in June to 91.2. Among its components, the Present Situation Index contracted while the Expectations Index improved as customers’ concerns regarding the present situation worsened and concerns about the future eased. The Present Situation Index, reflecting current business and labor market conditions, declined 3.0 points to 116.4. Meanwhile, the…
Aircraft Orders Pull Factory Demand Lower, While Shipments Continue to Advance
July 6, 2026New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.3% in May after increasing 5.3% in April. Meanwhile, new orders for manufactured goods rose 5.1% over the year. When excluding transportation, new orders stepped up 1.9% over the month and 5.5% year-over-year in May. Orders for durable goods fell 4.5%, following an 8.5% jump in April. Year to…
Global Manufacturing Growth Weakens with Hiring and Optimism Losing Ground
July 6, 2026In June, growth in global manufacturing weakened from May, decreasing from 52.7 to 52.2. Output and new orders both improved but at slower paces than the prior month. Meanwhile, lead times lengthened and remain near four-year highs. Employment declined while inventory levels continued to grow as firms prepare for anticipated supply chain disruptions and further…
Texas Factory Activity Slows, but Uncertainty Eases
July 6, 2026In June, Texas factory activity expanded at a slower pace after weakening the prior month. The production index decreased from 9.4 to 4.1, remaining below the series average of 9.6. The new orders index stepped down 4.1 points to 2.3, while the capacity utilization index rose 2.1 points to 7.3, slightly below the series average…
Manufacturing Growth Moderates as Optimism Weakens
July 6, 2026The S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI was 53.9 in June, down from 55.1 in May, signaling weaker growth. Production rose in June, while supported by domestic demand, new orders continued to grow but at their softest pace since March. At the same time, employment fell, while optimism declined to its lowest level since October 2025.