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NAM and MI: AI Will Strengthen the Manufacturing Workforce
August 6, 2025Manufacturers are leading the charge on artificial intelligence—but unlocking its full potential depends on training workers to use AI technologies and expanding the talent pipeline. By embracing AI and equipping people with the right skills, the industry can help fill hundreds of thousands of open jobs, the NAM told
Home Prices Hold Steady Over the Month, Affordability and Inventory Still Constrained
August 4, 2025In May, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index recorded a 2.3% annual gain, down slightly from 2.7% in April. The 10-City Composite saw an annual increase of 3.4% in May, down from 4.1% the previous month, while the 20-City Composite rose 2.8% year-over-year, down from 3.4%. Among the 20 cities, New…
Indexes Reflect Mixed Consumer Confidence
August 4, 2025Consumer confidence increased 2.0 points in July to 97.2. The Consumer Confidence Index stabilized following June’s decline but remains below the confidence level one year ago. Among its components, the Present Situation Index declined slightly, while the Expectations Index improved, with consumers’ pessimism about the future receding some. The Present Situation Index, reflecting current business…
Texas Manufacturing Activity Increases, Perceptions Improve
August 4, 2025In July, Texas factory activity rose markedly following a decline in June. The production index jumped 20 points to 21.3, the highest reading in three years. Meanwhile, other measures were mixed. The new orders index remained negative at -3.6 but advanced nearly four points. On the other hand, capacity utilization and shipments jumped into positive…
Federal Reserve Keeps Rate Target Steady at July Meeting
August 4, 2025As anticipated, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained its interest rate target range at 4.25%–4.50% at its July meeting. In a change to its previous statement, the FOMC noted that the growth of economic activity has moderated in the first half of the year. Unlike the June decision, which was unanimous, two FOMC members, Christopher…
Second Quarter Consumer Spending Increased, Investments Decrease
August 4, 2025Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2025, up from a 0.5% decline in the first quarter and above consensus expectations of slightly weaker growth. In the first half of the year, real GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.2%. The increase in GDP during the second…
International Export Demand Decreases, Firms Stay Hopeful
August 4, 2025The S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI was 49.8 in July, down considerably from the June reading of 52.9 and the first contraction after six consecutive months of growth. New orders effectively stagnated, growing at the slowest pace seen all year, with uncertainty created by tariffs leading to hesitancy in committing to new orders. Weak sales…
Global Manufacturing Activity Contracts, Export Orders Decline
August 4, 2025In July, global manufacturing activity fell back into contraction territory, dropping from 50.4 to 49.7. Output and new orders also dropped back into contraction in July after expanding in June. New export orders continued to decline and at a faster pace than the prior month. After businesses frontloaded in advance of increased tariff rates in…
Manufacturing Hiring Rate Ticks Up in June
August 4, 2025Job openings for manufacturing decreased by 10,000 to 415,000 in On the other hand, the May job openings level of 425,000 was revised upward from 414,000 in the previous report. Nondurable goods job openings in June rose by 26,000 to 155,000, while durable goods job openings declined by 35,000 to 261,000. The manufacturing job openings…
