Bloomberg News (10/2, Jamrisko) reports, “Manufacturing unexpectedly expanded in September after three months of contraction, reflecting stronger orders that ease concern the US economy will slow further. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 51.5 last month from 49.6 in August, the Tempe, Arizona-based group said” Monday.
The AP (10/2, Rugaber) reports, “The reading ‘will boost hopes that some of the recent slowdown in economic growth was just a summer phenomenon,’ Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients. In the manufacturing survey, a measure of new orders jumped to 52.3, the highest reading since May. That suggests production will increase in the coming months. And a gauge of employment rose, a sign that manufacturers may report a gain in jobs when September’s employment report is released Friday.”
AFP (10/2) reports, “Surveyed businesses expressed ‘a mix of optimism over new orders beginning to pick up, and continued concern over soft global business conditions and an unsettled political environment,’ ISM said.”
IndustryWeek (10/2, Minter) reports, “Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 11 reported growth in September. Expanding sectors in order included Textile Mills; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The six industries reporting contraction in September, listed in order, are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Computer & Electronic Products.”
Also covering the story are MarketWatch (10/2, Bartash), BBC News (10/2), the UK’s Financial Times (10/1, Raval, Subscription Publication) and other media sources.
Kickoff Fall with NADCA Education Classes!
NADCA’s education division is excited to announce the release of its 2012 Fall Education Schedule! This fall NADCA will be offering the following courses:
- EC-205 Quick Die Change – October 29, 2012
- EC-202 Zinc Die Casting – October 30, 2012
- EC-305 Metallurgy Of Die Casting Alloys – October 31, 2012
- EC-211 Dimensional Repeatability – November 1, 2012
- EC-515 Die Casting Defects – November 5, 2012
- EC-514 Gating Design – November 6, 2012 – November 7, 2012
- EC-700 PQ² – November 8, 2012
- EC-606 Product Design – November 12, 2012
- EC-506 Engineering Die Casting Dies – November 13, 2012 – November 14, 2012
Do not miss out on your chance to gain valuable knowledge about die casting parts and processes! For more information on the spring semester course schedule please visit: www.diecasting.org/education/schedule.htm. To register for a course or courses visit: www.diecasting.org/education/registration.
If you would like to learn about other education services NADCA offers please visit: www.diecasting.org/education or contact Melisa Ryzner at (847) 808-3161.
Ford Posts Record September Sales In China
The Detroit News (10/11, Henkel) reports, “Ford Motor Co. said September was its best month ever in China thanks to strong passenger car sales, particularly sales of the Focus compact car. Ford China and its partners registered 59,570 sales in September, up 35 percent compared to last September.” The automaker “has now sold 428,083 vehicles through the first nine months of the year, an 11 percent increase compared to the same period a year ago.”
The Detroit Free Press (10/11, Priddle) reports, “The figures include strong demand for the Focus which is now built in Chongqing.” The automaker “continues aggressive growth plans in China with five manufacturing facilities under construction and moves to introduce 15 new vehicles by 2015. Among them are three utility vehicles to be available in showrooms next year: the Explorer, Kuga (Escape) and EcoSport in addition to the Edge that is already on sale. The Lincoln brand will be added to the mix in 2014.” The company “is doubling production capacity in the world’s largest market, adding dealerships and doubling the number of salaried workers in China to support the expansion.”
CNNMoney (10/11, O’Toole) notes, “The gains coincided with the sharp declines in China sales reported by Japanese automakers amid a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over a set of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.”
Study: Federal Regulations On Manufacturers May Reduce Output By As Much As $500 Billion This Year
Bloomberg News (8/22, Wingfield) reports, “Regulations on US manufacturing may reduce output by as much as $500 billion this year, according to an industry-sponsored study that cast doubts on President Barack Obama’s efforts to trim red tape in the federal government. The Obama administration has established an average of 72 regulations on manufacturers annually, an increase from the 45 per year imposed under President George W. Bush, according to the study”conducted by NERA Economic Consulting. “With job creation a central theme in the US presidential race, the health of manufacturing companies is of importance to both Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.” The National Association of Manufacturers and other industry groups “have said federal regulations hinder economic growth.”
IndustryWeek (8/22, Minter) reports, “In ‘Macroeconomic Impacts of Federal Regulation of the Manufacturing Sector,’ NERA looked at the cumulative impact of federal regulations issued since 1981 that affect the general economy and the manufacturing sector in particular. The study found 2,183 regulations affecting manufacturing, of which 235 are considered ‘major’ regulations with compliance costs of $100 million or more. The NERA study estimates that these regulations cost the economy from $265 billion to $726 billion a year in direct compliance costs.”