Economics | Manufacturing.net

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, Feb. 1, 2023.

Fed Lifts Rate by Quarter-Point

But the central bank acknowledged that the pace of inflation has cooled.

Workers wearing face masks sew fabrics at a textile factory in Huimin county in east China's Shandong province on Oct. 25, 2022. Chinese factory activity rebounded in January from three months of contraction, adding to signs the world’s second-largest economy might be recovering from a painful slump, an official survey showed Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Chinese Factory Activity Rebounds

This adds to signs the world’s second-largest economy might be recovering from a painful slump.

January 31, 2023

An employee works in the battery assembly hall at the BMW Spartanburg plant in Greer, S.C., Wednesday, October 19, 2022. On Thursday, the Commerce Department issues its first of three estimates of how the U.S. economy performed in the fourth quarter of 2022.

U.S. Economy Slowed but Still Grew at 2.9% Rate Last Quarter

The economy got a boost last quarter from resilient consumer spending and the restocking of supplies by businesses.

January 26, 2023

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during a news conference, Dec. 14, 2022, Washington.

Fed, Markets in Standoff on Rate Hikes

Sooner or later, either Wall Street or the Federal Reserve has to blink.

January 25, 2023

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in front of the new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company facility under construction in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Cook will take a more than 40% pay cut this year from a year earlier as the company adjusts how it calculates his compensation. Apple Inc. said in a regulatory filing that Cook’s target total compensation is $49 million for 2023.

Apple CEO Tim Cook to Take 40% Pay Cut

The change was made partly based on a recommendation from Cook himself.

January 13, 2023

Container cranes at a port in New Jersey behind the Statue of Liberty, Nov. 20, 2022.

World Bank: Recession a Looming Threat for Global Economy

Officials expect weaker growth in all the world's top economies — the U.S., Europe and China.

January 11, 2023

A display in the Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping mall, Paramus, New Jersey, December 17, 2022.

Inflation Falls for 6th Consecutive Month

January 13, 2023

Shoppers carry shopping bags down Fifth Avenue, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, in New York. After a two-year hiatus, holiday procrastinators are back this year, during a holiday season when retailers need them even more. Shoppers have been pulling back on buying and waiting for the best deals as inflation weighs on their shopping habits.

Holiday Procrastinators Are Back in Force. Blame Inflation.

December 23, 2022

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Recession a Growing Fear as Fed Plans to Keep Rates High

December 16, 2022

Wight's Meat Packing facility in Fombell, Pa., June 16, 2022.

Wholesale Inflation Slows Further in November

December 9, 2022

Industrial Media Unboxing Video

Industrial Media Unboxing Video

IEN Unboxed is a new show in which our editors unbox new tools on the market and discuss their features.

January 31, 2023

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institute, Washington, Nov. 30, 2022.

Fed to Keep Rates Higher for Longer

But the central bank's chairman signaled that its next rate hike could be smaller.

December 1, 2022

James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, during an interview in Richmond, Va., Nov. 19, 2019.

Fed Official Suggests Substantial Rate Hikes May Be Needed

The comments raised the possibility of borrowing by consumers and businesses becoming even costlier.

November 21, 2022

A display shows most indices up on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Corporate profits have withstood raging inflation over much of the last year, but those good times may be ending. Profits stayed fat even as companies’ costs rose thanks to one simple trick: Businesses boosted the prices they charged customers by more than their own costs rose.

Inflation Finally Hitting Profit Margins

More companies are seeing their costs rise faster than their revenues.

November 17, 2022

An Acura dealership in Wexford, Pa., Sept. 29, 2022.

Consumer Inflation Eased to 7.7% Over Past Year

The report is the latest sign that the inflation pressures that have gripped the nation might be easing.

November 10, 2022

A help wanted sign is displayed in Deerfield, Ill., Sept. 21, 2022.

Employers Keep Hiring at Solid Clip

Last month’s hiring remained near the robust pace it has maintained in the two-plus years since the pandemic recession ended.

November 4, 2022

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at a news conference in Washington, Nov. 2, 2022.

Fed Again Raises Interest Rates

But the latest rate hike could signal a turning point.

November 3, 2022

A sales associate helps a prospective customer as laptops sit on display in a Costco warehouse, Aug. 15, 2022, in Sheridn, Colo. Americans picked up their spending a bit in August from July even as surging inflation on household necessities like rent and food take a toll on household budgets. The U.S. retail sales rose an unexpected 0.3% last month, from being down 0.4% in July, the Commerce Department said Thursday., Sept. 15, 2022.

Retail Sales Flat in September as Inflation Takes a Bite

Surging prices for everything from mortgages to rent have upped the anxiety level.

October 14, 2022

A shopper removes purchases from his cart in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 12, 2022.

Inflation Pressures Further Intensified in September

The Fed’s five rate hikes this year appear to have done little to cool inflation pressures.

October 13, 2022

A sign advertises for help at The Goldenrod, York Beach, Maine, June 1, 2022.

Strong Hiring Numbers Point to More Fed Hikes

The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, matching a half-century low.

October 7, 2022

Shoppers shop at a grocery store in Glenview, Ill., Monday, July 4, 2022. Consumers spent a bit more in August than the previous month, a sign the economy is holding up even as inflation lifts prices for food, rent, and other essentials. Americans boosted their spending at stores and for services such as haircuts by 0.4% in August, after it fell 0.2% in July, the Commerce Department said Friday Sept. 30.

Resilient U.S. Consumers Spend Slightly More in August

Still, there were signs that rising prices are weighing on shoppers.

October 3, 2022

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at a news conference in Washington, Sept. 21, 2022.

Powell's Stark Message: Inflation Fight May Cause Recession

The Fed's goal of engineering a “soft landing” looks increasingly unlikely.

September 23, 2022

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during a news conference at the Federal Reserve Board building in Washington, July 27, 2022.

Fed Attacks Inflation with Another Big Hike

And it signaled more large rate hikes to come.

September 21, 2022

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Cutting Tool Orders Up 6.7% in July

But orders declined compared to the previous month.

September 15, 2022

Fresh seafood is shown for sale at a grocery store, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Surfside, Fla. Inflation at the wholesale level jumped 8.7% in August from a year earlier, a slowdown from July yet still a painfully high level that suggests prices will keep spiking for months to come.

U.S. Wholesale Inflation Declines

But the DOL's report suggests prices will keep spiking for months to come.

September 14, 2022