Manufacturing activity slowed in April
Manufacturing activity slowed in April, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity report from its most recent survey.
LEI fell in March
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.7% in March, after a prior decline of 0.2% decline in February, and below forecasts of a .5% decline.
US raw steel production down from previous week
In the week ending April 19, 20256, US raw steel production was 1,682,000 net tons at an ACUYR of 74.9 percent, down 0.4 percent from the previous week ending April 12, 2025.
Adjusted YTD production was 25, 895,000 net tons at an ACUR of 74.6 percent.
US drill rigs running up from previous week
There were 585 drill rigs running in the US last week, up two rigs from the previous week, down 34 rigs from one year ago. Canadian drillers had 134 rigs running, down four from the previous week, up 7 rigs from one year ago.
CFNAI decreased in March
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to -0.03 in March from +0.24 in February. Two of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index decreased from February, and three categories made negative contributions in March. The index’s three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3), decreased to -0.01 in March from +0.12 in February.
Headline News
Front page of the Wall Street Journal Monday, has a picture of Pope Francis greeting the Easter Sunday crowds….then he was taken to heaven during the night… RIP
All these congress members flying to El Salvador on YOUR dime. For what? To save a criminal who was in the USA illegally, likely an MS 13 gang member, a wife beater, ignoring their constituents back home while glorifying this guy? This is the hill they want to fight on? Something is wrong, very wrong about this whole situation. The government of El Salvador wants this guy and will not release him.
It has not yet been 100 days since Trump took office. The elephant in the room seems to be tariffs, though they have hardly had time to show any positive results-which I think they will. It just makes sense to me that we (The United States) stop being the world’s piggy bank. We can no longer afford it. That our friends and foes have tariffed us to near bankruptcy since 1945 should be obvious to anyone with a brain and some common sense. We are the largest consuming market in the world. If you want to sell your goods here, our goods should be available in every country which sells into ours. You want to charge us 45% to sell our goods in your country? Why is it wrong for us to charge you the same 45% to sell your goods in ours? Simple answer…it is not wrong. That would be fair trade. How about no tariffs between trading partners? That is easy and quite doable. It may be Trump’s intention in these negotiations anyway. However it ends, the USA will be in a much stronger position to compete. I tire of listening to the pundits, who have no clue, tell us how bad things will get when they do not know. Yes, Trump is delaying, changing and modifying some tariffs, this seems normal to me. Anyone who is not willing to adapt to circumstances is doomed to fail. No one before has undertaken the task of doing what Trump is doing. Give it some time, and a chance to work.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
“KEEP AMERICA GREAT”
Have a great weekend…. God bless America!
Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.
By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907
In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
