News & Insights
Producer Prices Climb as Goods Costs Soar
The Producer Price Index for final demand (also known as wholesale prices) rose 1.1% over the month in May, a similar increase to April. Over the year, producer prices jumped 6.5%, up from the 5.7% gain in April and the largest 12-month increase since November 2022. Meanwhile, prices for final demand excluding foods, energy and …
Small Business Optimism Softens as Taxes and Labor Costs Weigh
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index stepped down 0.6 points to 95.3 in May, remaining below the 52-year average of 98. May’s decline was due to a weakening of the labor components, though partially offset by improvements in earnings trends and inventory plans. Of the 10 components included in the index, three increased, six decreased …
Rising Input Costs Top Manufacturers’ Concerns in Q2 Survey
Washington, D.C. – Manufacturers are reporting increased raw material costs as the top business challenge facing them, jumping 25.6 percentage points from 57.5% in the first quarter to 83.1% in the second quarter, according to the National Association of Manufacturers’ Q2 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. This shift comes as the conflict in the Middle East puts …
Manufacturers: Bipartisan DOMINANCE Act Will Counter China’s Grip on Critical Minerals
Washington, D.C. – Following House passage of the bipartisan Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies (DOMINANCE) Act, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement: “China’s dominance of critical mineral supply chains poses a growing threat to America’s manufacturing competitiveness, economic security and technological leadership—at …
