January’s 52.3 reading pushes the Gardner Business Index back into expansion for the first time in 10 months, fueled by sharp gains in key components.
Driven by strong demand for automated manufacturing technology, continued activity increases in aerospace and electricity and rebounded activity within the lucrative job shop sector, investments in metalworking machinery rose to nearly $430 million in June 2025 – a 7.7% increase over the same time period last year.