Improvements in the Manufacturing Index are the first gains in over a year.
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index Increases in July Read More »
All four broad categories of indicators improved, with production-related indicators making a positive contribution for the first time since October 2008.All four broad categories of indicators improved, with production-related indicators making a positive contribution for the first time since October 2008.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index Improves in July Read More »
Responsibilties for top executive post at the U.S. HVAC/plumbing distributor will be taken over by the CEO of Wolseley North America.
Wolseley Eliminates Ferguson CEO/President Position Read More »
The acquisition of the Findlay, OH, custom mixing plant expands Robbins’ offerings of custom rubber mixes.
Robbins Acquires Ohio Operations of Biltrite Industries Read More »
behavior of the composite indexes suggests the economy will begin recovery soon.
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index Rises for Fourth Month Read More »
Global recession slowed production across all segments for the Dutch distributor.
ERIKS Sales for First Half of 2009 Down Slightly Read More »
Dissolution of the GE Fanuc Automation Corp. joint venture will allow the companies to focus on their individual core segments.
GE, Japanese Manufacturer Agree to End JV Read More »
Companies are shifting the way they do business, but ‘cautious optimism’ rules the day.
Global Recession Over? Read More »
The changes – apparently coming soon – are part of Grainger’s overall investment in e-commerce, which is a fast-growing part of the distributor’s business.
Grainger’s Revamped Web site Read More »
Single-family housing starts increased 1.7% over June figures to 490,000.
July Housing Starts Down 1% from June Read More »
The downturn in the producer price index for finished goods was broad-based.
Wholesale Prices Decline 0.9% in July Read More »
Profit declines 7% over concerns in the housing market and general economy.
The Home Depot 2Q Sales Fall 9.1% Read More »
Industrial production increased 0.5% in July. Aside from a hurricane-related rebound in October 2008, the gain in July marked the first monthly increase since December 2007.
Manufacturing output advanced 1.0% in July, primarily due to a jump in motor vehicle assemblies from an annual rate of 4.1 million units in June to 5.9 million units in July. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing production edged up 0.2%.
The output of utilities fell 2.4%, reflecting unseasonably mild temperatures in July, and the output of mines increased 0.8%. At 96.0% of its 2002 average, total industrial production was 13.1% below its level of a year earlier.
In July, the capacity utilization rate for total industry edged up to 68.5%, a level 12.4%age points below its 1972-2008 …
Industrial Production Up 0.5% in July Read More »
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, reported operating revenue decrease of 24% for the three months ended July 31, 2009. The revenue decline for the three months consisted of a 21% decrease in base revenues and an 8% decline in contributions from currency translation. Acquisitions contributed 5% to revenues in the three month period.
For the most recent three month period, base revenues modestly improved versus the 2009 second quarter largely as a result of improving end market activity for businesses in the transportation, polymers & fluids and construction segments.
On a segment basis, the Company’s three month moving average percentage change for operating revenues, comprised of base revenues, acquisitions/divestitures and currency translation, is provided below. (Percent …
Illinois Tool Works Operating Revenue Down in Latest 3 Months Read More »
Acquisition of the Middle East-based fluid engineering company expands Gates’ presence in the region.
Gates Corp. Acquires Hydrolink Read More »
The pace of mergers and acquisitions continued to decline across the industrial products sectors during the first half of 2009 compared to the first half of 2008, according to a series of quarterly M&A reports released by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Deal volume and value in the global transportation and logistics and industrial manufacturing industries slowed significantly in the first half of 2009 as economic uncertainties continued to dominate the global metals economy.
In industrial manufacturing, the pace of deal volume (measures by the number of deals with a disclosed value of at least $50 million) declined 71% to 26 deals in the first-half 2009. Only 12 deals were announced in the second quarter 2009, a steep drop from 47 in the prior year. Large deal activity (defined as deals …
M&A Activity Falls Sharply in First Half Read More »
Mass layoff events reached a record high during the second quarter of 2009 with the manufacturing sector accounting for 31% of the separations, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers initiated 2,994 mass layoff events in the second quarter of 2009 resulting in the separation of 534,881 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days.
Second quarter program highs in the number of separations were recorded in 7 of 18 major industry sectors, all four geographic regions, and fourteen states. Thirty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the second quarter of 2009 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, down from 51% a year earlier, and was the lowest proportion of anticipated recalls for a …
Manufacturing Accounts for 31% of Mass Layoffs in 2Q Read More »
While most people say that initial rounds of inventory reduction were probably a good thing, bringing on-hand inventories more inline with demand, the question always was how far will it go and for how long.
Recent reports – including the results of the Baird Industrial Distribution Survey – say destocking may be coming to an end in the last half of this year. While that may have some positive implications for sales, the end of destocking likely will not be the magic bullet to ramping up stalled factories soon.
Why? According to the Baird Survey, in the second quarter: "Inventory levels continue to decline with no restock expected in the near-term. Nearly 7 out of 10 …
Could Destocking Be Near An End? Read More »
Grainger, Chicago, IL, reported daily sales results for the month of July 2009 declined 14% versus July 2008, primarily the result of weak demand across all customer end-markets and geographies. Foreign exchange negatively affected sales by approximately one percentage point.
U.S. sales were down 14%; Canadian sales were down 19% (down 10% in local currency). Sales from Other Businesses were up …
Grainger July Sales Down 14% Read More »
Year-over-year, sales are down 21%; inventories are down 10.3%.
Wholesale Revenues Inch Up in June Read More »
By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.
Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.
Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:
