[Note: this article is full of hyperlinks to supporting data and source documents. To view the article complete with hyperlinks click here.]

Jobs Friday. The markets wait for the unpredictable BLS to publish its data. Their methodology produces a lot of monthly volatility. Their adjustment factors create too many jobs. The August 2010 BLS jobs report did not disappoint this opinion.

… Continue

Here's another round-up of articles that caught my eye recently, in case you missed any and would like to follow them up. As usual it's from a European perspective with a close watch on China. You can view the article with all the hyperlinks intact at my site, madeinnations.com

The August headline that over 2000 factories in China are to be closed on environmental and energy grounds seemed interesting at first, until you facto… Continue

The European economy is recovering from the severe recession of 2009, albeit gradually and slower than anticipated, according to the semiannual Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI European Industrial Outlook: 2010-2011 (ER-705), a report that analyzes 14 major industries.

The report separately analyzes two distinct regions: Western Europe and Central Europe. The former generally comprises the 16 countries that form the currency union (Eurozone), while the latter includes the three largest econom… Continue

The following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, regarding the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Index for August 2010 (the ISM Index was 56.3 percent, an 0.8 percentage point improvement over July):

“Manufacturing has consistently outperformed the pace of growth in the general economy during this recovery,” he said. “For example, GDP increased only at a 1.6 percent annual rate in the second quarter of 2010 but manufa… Continue

We need to balance trade and win the trade battles with our competitors. Too much is being lost. Please see the attached link to a piece in today's Huffington Post, "Fighting the Trade Wars for American Jobs." Please also join us on September 28 for our Conference… Continue

Yes, our steel trade association finally got our blog launched. We will be upgrading features soon, but check it out when you have time. Most recent, good story by Bloomberg about U.S. Commerce Secretary's announcement that the Administration is going get tougher on trade law enforcement. It's about time we put pressure on nations, like China, who refuse to play by the WTO and U.S. trade rules.

http://www.mysteelworks.org/


Now if we'd just get toughe… Continue

[Note: This article contains hyperlinks to support data which have not been included in this post. To view this article with hyperlinks.]

Everyone and their brother will be spinning the second estimate of 2Q2010 GDP which revised growth from 2.4% annualized to 1.6%. As most know, GDP cherry picks certain expenditures and is only one metric of our economy.

GDP leaves so many important economic elements out such as existing… Continue

UC Professor and Author Peter Navarro lays out the threat of the Chinese government's industrial policy to U.S. manufacturers quite clearly. If you get a chance, check it out.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-27/china-begs-borrows-steals-american-know-how-commentary-by-peter-navarro.html

Cross-posted on Huffington Post

Earlier this month Forbes magazine published a piece about a controversial question that has garnered increasingly more mainstream attention: "Should nearly everyone go to college?" College professor and director of the Center for College Affordability & Productivit… Continue

Small calibrations on big parts equals huge savings for manufacturers

Great podcast that explains the technology

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) today announced that its Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) project has been honored with a R&D 100 Award. VALMT, which pioneered an innovative process in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools, is the fifth… Continue