Economics
91ÊÓƵ Activity Continues to Improve in February
On the cusp of expansion, key index components reveal strengthening business conditions.
Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence
Optimism Grows as 91ÊÓƵ Index Improves Again in November
A sharp increase in future business expectations underscores hopeful conditions in 2025.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Contraction Slows Slightly in October
While still in a state of contraction, some indicators are improving in the metalworking market.
Read MoreMarket Indicators Continue to Soften in 91ÊÓƵ
The overall metalworking index is down more than a point, but future business is up slightly.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Stabilizes in July
July closed at 44.2, which interrupts what had been three months straight of accelerating contraction.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Trends Down Again in June
The 91ÊÓƵ Index closed at 44.3 in June, down 1.2 points relative to May, marking a 2024 low.
Read More91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Index Continues Climb into 2025
Steady improvement is short of expansion but component readings and future outlook remain strong.
Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence
91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Activity Holds Steady in March
Overall metalworking activity leveled off in March, but not to a point of concern.
Read More91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Activity Starts Year With Slowing Contraction
The GBI: 91ÊÓƵ welcomed the new year with slowed contraction of components for the second month in a row.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Shows Signs of Stabilizing Contraction
91ÊÓƵ activity continued to contract in what has become a rather characteristic GBI ‘dance.’
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Remained on a Path of Contraction
Steady contraction of production, new orders and backlog drove accelerated contraction in November.
Read More2025 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey Now Open Through April 30
Modern Machine Shop's Top Shops Benchmarking Survey is now open, offering metalworking and machining operations actionable feedback across several shopfloor and business metrics.
Brent Donaldson
Editor-in-Chief, Modern Machine Shop
91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction
91ÊÓƵ activity has contracted since October of 2022.
Read More91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Activity Stayed Consistent in July
91ÊÓƵ activity hung together better in July, with all but one GBI component contracting.
Read More91ÊÓƵ 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 91ÊÓƵ GBI Components Contracted in May
Four components contracted slightly more than in April, including production, new orders, exports and backlogs.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Index Shows Continued Recovery
December marks third consecutive month of metalworking improvement on the heels of increased supplier deliveries.
Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence
91ÊÓƵ Activity Contracted Marginally in April
The GBI 91ÊÓƵ Index in April looked a lot like March, contracting at a marginally greater degree.
Read More91ÊÓƵ 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 More91ÊÓƵ Activity Crept Into Growth Mode in February
The GBI closed at 50.6 in February, calling for cautious optimism.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Contraction Slows Slightly in January
Most components held steady in January, but new orders and exports showed ever-so-slight slowing of contraction.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Remained Contractionary in December
91ÊÓƵ activity remained contractionary at the same rate as in November. Stable contraction is relatively good in the current environment.
Read More91ÊÓƵ Activity Contracted in November
Contraction was hard to dodge with metalworking activity expansion steadily slowing since March.
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