The key leading indicator of production – durable goods new orders – grew at an accelerating annual rate for the third consecutive month. Durable goods new orders are indicating that production should see accelerating growth in the second half of 2021 and possibly into 2022.
Banking data signal rising demand from companies for credit. This may support ancedotal evidence that a rising proportion of firms are struggling with limited working capital.
The capacity utilization in all but two of the industries tracked by Gardner Intelligence is in an accelerating growth mode (the two exceptions are growing slower). This is a positive sign for capital equipment consumption as capacity utilization leads capital spending by seven to 10 months.
Compared with one year ago, the GBI: Metalworking was 23.5% higher, which was the 13th consecutive month of growth. The strong growth in the metalworking industry should lead to accelerating growth in machine tool orders throughout 2021.
August's results indicated that persistent supply chain problems continue to have a worsening effect on production, resulting in a production 'deficit'. As a result of this deficit, manufacturers are reporting rising backlog activity and slowing hiring activity.
Annual growth in durable goods new orders should continue for another three to six months. However, it appears that consumer durable goods spending, which is a good leading indicator of new orders, may have peaked in July. Also, motor vehicle and parts, computers and electronics, and appliance new orders – all products that make heavy use of computer chips – contracted month-over-month in July.
The Gardner Business Index (GBI) ended August at 58.8, marking the second consecutive month in which the overall Index moved lower.
Growth in durable goods spending slowed as a result of contracting disposable income, a slight increase in the year-over-year change in the 10-year Treasury rate and fading consumer confidence. However, the most significant reason was dramatically slower growth in motor vehicle and parts spending.
The month-over-month rate of growth in real disposable income contracted for the fourth month in a row. This led to decelerating growth in the annual rate of change, which indicates that real consumer spending will hit peak growth in the second half of 2021.
Weekly data from the Association of American Railroads illustrates the diversity of supply chain problems across the continent, not just the United States.
The annual rate of growth in the monetary base was rapidly accelerating through March 2021. This indicates that capital equipment consumption should see accelerating growth through March 2002, if not beyond.
Anguish over domestic labor availability is only part of the problem facing U.S. manufacturers and ultimately product prices. Challenging labor market conditions are creating similar problems and rising production cost problems in China as well.
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