Economics

Metalworking Contraction Slows Slightly in October

While still in a state of contraction, some indicators are improving in the metalworking market.

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Activity Trends Downward in May

Accelerated contraction and declines in business optimism span manufacturing segments. Odds are that broad-reaching economic factors are at play.

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Metalworking Activity Trends Slightly Downward in April

The interruption after what had been three straight months of slowing contraction may indicate growing conservatism as interest rates and inflation fail to come down.

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Metalworking Activity Holds Steady in March

Overall metalworking activity leveled off in March, but not to a point of concern.

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Metalworking Activity is on a Roll, Relatively Speaking

February closed at 47.7, up 1.4 points relative to January, marking the third straight month of slowed contraction.

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Metalworking Activity Starts Year With Slowing Contraction

The GBI: Metalworking welcomed the new year with slowed contraction of components for the second month in a row.

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Metalworking Activity Shows Signs of Stabilizing Contraction

Metalworking activity continued to contract in what has become a rather characteristic GBI ‘dance.’

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JTEKT
Koma Precision
Paperless Parts
JTEKT

Market Indicators Continue to Soften in Metalworking

The overall metalworking index is down more than a point, but future business is up slightly.

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Activity Remained on a Path of Contraction

Steady contraction of production, new orders and backlog drove accelerated contraction in November.

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Metalworking Activity Continues its Roller Coaster Year of Contraction

October marks a full year of metalworking activity contracting, barring just one isolated month of reprieve in February.

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Metalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction

Metalworking activity has contracted since October of 2022.

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Metalworking Activity Continued to Contract Steadily in August

The degrees of accelerated contraction are relatively minor, contributing to a mostly stable index despite the number of components contracting.

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Metalworking Activity Stayed Consistent in July

Metalworking activity hung together better in July, with all but one GBI component contracting.

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Metalworking Activity Contracts With the Components in June

Components that contracted include new orders, backlog and production, landing on low values last seen at the start of 2023.

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715 Series - 5-axis complete machining
Hurco
SolidCAM
Paperless Parts

Metalworking Activity Stabilizes in July

July closed at 44.2, which interrupts what had been three months straight of accelerating contraction.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

Most Metalworking GBI Components Contracted in May

Four components contracted slightly more than in April, including production, new orders, exports and backlogs.

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Metalworking Activity Contracted Marginally in April

The GBI Metalworking Index in April looked a lot like March, contracting at a marginally greater degree.

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Metalworking GBI Contracted in March After One-Month Reprieve

February’s call for cautious optimism was well placed…market dynamics in March put a damper on what had been metalworking activity’s modest re-entry to growth mode in February.  

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Metalworking Activity Crept Into Growth Mode in February

The GBI closed at 50.6 in February, calling for cautious optimism.

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Metalworking Activity Contraction Slows Slightly in January

Most components held steady in January, but new orders and exports showed ever-so-slight slowing of contraction.

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Metalworking Activity Remained Contractionary in December

Metalworking activity remained contractionary at the same rate as in November. Stable contraction is relatively good in the current environment.

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More blasting. Less part handling.
TIMTOS
DN Solutions
More blasting. Less part handling.

Metalworking Activity Trends Down Again in June

The Metalworking Index closed at 44.3 in June, down 1.2 points relative to May, marking a 2024 low.

Jan Schafer
Director of Market Research

Metalworking Activity Contracted in November

Contraction was hard to dodge with metalworking activity expansion steadily slowing since March.

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Mixed Bag Ahead for US Metalworking Economy

While what has been an extraordinarily robust manufacturing economy has softened in recent months, and the near-term outlook appears to be more of the same, the overall scenario remains strong. Even a possible recession next year does not appear to be an obstacle to continued growth over the next few years.

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Metalworking Activity Stays Flat in October

The GBI for Metalworking reflects stability of most of the six GBI components that had been losing ground months prior. Ordinarily underwhelming, flat is good when it means not contracting.

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Metalworking Activity Flattens in September

It has been nearly two years since the Gardner Business Index for Metalworking was 50.

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Metalworking Growth Stays Consistent in August

All components of metalworking activity contributed to the consistent slowdown in the past few months.

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Metalworking Growth Posts Another Month of Steady Slowing

All components of metalworking activity in July 2022 contributed to the slowdown in what has become a consistent pattern the past few months. 

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QualiChem Metalworking Fluids
JTEKT
Hurco
Hurco