2007

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the eighth consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 71st consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

“Manufacturing growth continued in September while some sectors of the economy are apparently struggling,” ISM reported. “The trend is toward slower growth in manufacturing as the rate of growth in both the New Orders Index and Production Index slowed. The sector is apparently in excellent shape with regard to inventories as the Inventories Index fell to 41.6 percent, indicating significant inventory liquidation, and the rate of growth in the Employment Index increased slightly in …

Real gross domestic product -the output of goods and services produced by labor and property in the U.S. -increased at an annual rate of 3.8% in the second quarter of 2007, according to final estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 0.6%.
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These GDP estimates are based on more complete source data than were available for&nbsp ; the preliminary estimates issued last month. In the preliminary estimates, the increase in real GDP was 4%.
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The acceleration in real GDP growth in the second quarter primarily reflected a downturn in imports, upturns in federal government spending and in private inventory investment, accelerations in exports, in nonresidential structures, and in equipment and software, and a …

Source: Statistics Canada

Following a weak second quarter, wholesale sales rebounded in July, spurred on by a turnaround in automotive sales, as well as healthy demand for machinery, and personal and household goods.
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Wholesalers sold an estimated&nbsp ; $44.1&nbsp ; billion worth of goods in July, a&nbsp ; 2.0% gain over June, surpassing the previous record high reached in March.
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The key automotive products sector led the way with a&nbsp ; 4.9% gain on the back of strong demand for motor vehicles. July also proved to be a good month for wholesalers of personal and household goods (+4.0%), machinery and electronic equipment (+2.8%), and building materials (+1.3%). Sales excluding the automotive sector rose&nbsp ; 1.3% in July.
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Source: Statistics Canada

Manufacturing shipments rebounded from a sharp&nbsp ; 2.0% drop in June, gaining&nbsp ; 2.3% to&nbsp ; $50.0&nbsp ; billion in July, the highest level since March. Most of the strength in July came from a return to more normal shipment levels by motor vehicle manufacturers following a sharp decrease in June.

Manufacturing shipments have been heavily influenced by fluctuations in the transportation equipment industry over the past several months. Excluding the motor vehicle and parts industries, shipments advanced&nbsp ; 0.4% in July for the fifth gain in the last six months.

Using constant dollars, which take price fluctuations into account, the volume of manufacturing shipments increased&nbsp ; 4.3% to&nbsp ; …