Learn About Gardner Intelligence

Gardner Intelligence is the preeminent source of economic information for anyone concerned with durable goods manufacturing. Here you’ll find a variety of tools for forecasting and trend analysis, precisely focused for the people who sell and consume capital equipment. Besides Gardner’s well known reports, this site includes interactive tools to dig deeply into the data that matters most to your business.

Featured Blog Posts

Disposable Income Grows at Record Rate Due to Government Transfer Payments

May 6, 2021 - Steven Kline, Jr.

Unlike most other economic data points being reported right now, changes in real disposable income are not being affected by easy comparisons from one year ago when the economy was locked down. In fact, real disposable income in March 2020 was only 1.4% below the all-time high in disposable income. The massive increase in disposable income is purely a result of record levels of government transfer payments.

Durable Goods Spending Hits All-Time High in March 2021

May 6, 2021 - Steven Kline, Jr.

Compared with one year ago, durable goods spending increased 44.0%, which was the fastest rate of month-over-month growth ever and the only month ever with growth faster than 24%. Of course, this incredible rate of growth was partially a result of an easy comparison with March 2020 due to the start of the economic lockdown.

April 2021 GBI: 62.7

May 3, 2021 - Michael Guckes

The GBI fell slightly after an 8-month trend of accelerating expansion. The latest reading was supported by readings for supplier deliveries, production and new orders but weighed down by employment and exports.

Cutting Tool Orders Show Signs of Improvement

April 30, 2021 - Steven Kline, Jr.

February cutting tool orders were the third highest since the economic lockdown started in March 2020. And, the GBI: Metalworking reached an all-time high in March on strength in new orders, production, and backlogs. This indicates that cutting tool orders should see strong growth in the second and third quarters of 2021.

Inflation Rate Exceeds Corporate Borrowing Costs

April 29, 2021 - Michael Guckes

That the cost of goods and services (inflation) is rising faster than the cost of borrowing money suggests that the economy has come to an incredible rate intersection. This is particularly true in the “goods” space where inflation is at 5.4% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.