Why the US manufacturing industry is seeing a recession

By Admin
Share
All industries progress through boom and bust cycles, and the manufacturing industry in the United States is currently shifting downward. According to n...

All industries progress through boom and bust cycles, and the manufacturing industry in the United States is currently shifting downward. According to new regional index reports this week, manufacturing is down across the board in the US—all seven regional manufacturing purchasing manager’s indexes reported contraction. In other words, the industry is in a recession.

As Business Insider reports, this can be attributed to three key factors: a weakened energy sector, a decrease in investments from the mining sector, and a decreased demand from China that has lessened revenue from international trade. This decrease in demand in part has led to manufacturing outpacing sales.

RELATED CONTENT: Could automation be the key to job creation in manufacturing?

The report consults with expert analysts who note that this contraction is not a fluke and is likely to continue in the near future:

[Pantheon Macroeconomics’ Ian] Shepherdson thinks these conditions will persist, writing on Thursday that, "No one should be surprised from soft numbers in the industrial economy, regional or national. Just as the downshift in capex in the oil sector began to ease, the strong dollar and the slowdown in China's industrial economy have bitten, hard, and likely will inflict more pain over the next few months."

 

RELATED CONTENT: The Reshoring Initiative and Walmart launch effort to help suppliers reshore

But due to the industry’s cyclical nature, while the recession may be drawn out it will not last forever. Renaissance Macro analyst Neil Dutta told Business Insider that the industry will strengthen once again with time and with the upswing of trade:

"Trade is an important driver of manufacturing activity since trade is dominated by manufactured goods. Part of the weakness in trade is cyclical, given the slump in the global economy. Monetary policy has eased globally in response to soft growth and with a lag, this should boost activity."

 

[SOURCE: Business Insider]

Share

Featured Articles

Your Guide to Manufacturing LIVE Chicago

With just six months to go until Manufacturing LIVE Chicago, explore the highlights you can look forward to below

UPDATED VENUE & DATE – Manufacturing LIVE Chicago 2025

Manufacturing LIVE Chicago announces important changes to its venue and date for the co-located event with PSC LIVE and Sustainability LIVE in 2025

The Breakdown of the Global Plastics Treaty isn't the end

The failure of the INC-5 talks has caused anger across the manufacturing sector, but the breakdown of this treaty will not stop efforts to address plastic

Stellantis Plant Shutdown Confirms EV Manufacturing Concerns

Sustainability & ESG

The Highlights of the Rockwell Automation Fair 2024

Digital Factory

TFL Drives Future of Electrification With Buses on Route 358

Sustainability & ESG