News & Insights
Small Business Sentiment Barely Improves as Hiring Challenges Top Concerns
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index edged up 0.1 point to 95.9 in April, remaining below the 52-year average of 98. April’s increase was due to improvements in most indices, with the largest uptick in earnings trends, which were partially offset by a notable decline in expected business conditions. Of the 10 components included in …
New York Manufacturing Expands at Its Fastest Pace Since 2022 as Lead Times and Costs Rise
Manufacturing activity in New York state expanded in May, with the headline business conditions index rising 8.6 points to 19.6, the highest reading since April 2022. The new orders index increased 3.4 points to 22.7, while the shipments index declined 1.3 points to 18.9, both remaining at high rates of growth for the second consecutive …
Import and Export Prices Climb Sharply as Costs Rise Broadly
U.S. import prices increased 1.9% in April, after rising 0.9% in March, with higher fuel and nonfuel prices driving the increase. Over the year, import prices advanced 4.2% in April, the largest 12-month increase since October 2022. Meanwhile, U.S. export prices stepped up 3.3% in April, driven by higher prices for nonagricultural and agricultural exports. …
Industrial Output Rebounds, Led by Transit Equipment, Natural Gas and Autos
Industrial production rose 0.7% in April, while manufacturing output advanced 0.6% after ticking up 0.1% in March. At 97.9% of its 2017 average, manufacturing production increased 1.3% from April 2025. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was 75.8%, up 0.4 percentage points from March and 1.1% over the past year. Capacity utilization remained 2.4 percentage points below …
Producer Prices Spike as Gasoline and Services Push Wholesale Inflation Higher
The Producer Price Index for final demand (also known as wholesale prices) rose 1.4% over the month in April, up from the 0.7% increase in March. Over the year, producer prices jumped 6.0%, up from 4.3% in March and the largest 12-month increase since December 2022. Meanwhile, prices for final demand excluding foods, energy and …
Inflation Heats Up Amid Rising Energy Costs
In April, consumer prices increased 0.6% from March and 3.8% over the year, up from the 3.3% annual rise in March and the greatest over-the-year increase since May 2023. Core CPI, which excludes more volatile energy and food prices, rose 0.4% from March and 2.8% over the year, up slightly from the 2.6% 12-month increase …
Manufacturers Welcome Release of Robust, Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – Following the release of surface transportation reauthorization bill text by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, NAM Executive Vice President Erin Streeter released the following statement: “Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen understand the importance of modern, reliable infrastructure to strengthening manufacturing in the United …
