Economics
Optimism Grows as Metalworking Index Improves Again in November
A sharp increase in future business expectations underscores hopeful conditions in 2025.
Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence
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.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Holds Steady in March
Overall metalworking activity leveled off in March, but not to a point of concern.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking 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 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 Shows Signs of Stabilizing Contraction
Metalworking activity continued to contract in what has become a rather characteristic GBI ‘dance.’
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Remained on a Path of Contraction
Steady contraction of production, new orders and backlog drove accelerated contraction in November.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction
Metalworking activity has contracted since October of 2022.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Stayed Consistent in July
Metalworking activity hung together better in July, with all but one GBI component contracting.
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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 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.
Read MoreMost Metalworking GBI Components Contracted in May
Four components contracted slightly more than in April, including production, new orders, exports and backlogs.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Contracted Marginally in April
The GBI Metalworking Index in April looked a lot like March, contracting at a marginally greater degree.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Crept Into Growth Mode in February
The GBI closed at 50.6 in February, calling for cautious optimism.
Read MoreMetalworking 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 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
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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Contracted in November
Contraction was hard to dodge with metalworking activity expansion steadily slowing since March.
Read MoreMixed 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.
Read MoreMetalworking 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.
Read MoreMetalworking Activity Flattens in September
It has been nearly two years since the Gardner Business Index for Metalworking was 50.
Read MoreMetalworking Growth Stays Consistent in August
All components of metalworking activity contributed to the consistent slowdown in the past few months.
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