Biggest durable goods orders in six months

The biggest durable goods orders in six months increased this month, largely as a reflection of the surge in civilian aircraft orders, though a broadening base of categories was driving business spending as 2025 wound down. Wells-Fargo

Texas factory activity expanded solidly in January 2026

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its January 2026 Manufacturing report on business and states Texas factory activity expanded solidly after contracting in December. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, jumped to 11.2 from -3.0, a reading suggestive of an above-average pace of output expansion. Other measures of manufacturing activity also rebounded this month. The new orders index increased 18 points, to 11.8, and the capacity utilization index moved up 12 points, to 7.1.
Perceptions of broader business conditions stabilized in January.
In my view, a very good report.

US raw steel production up 1.3% from previous week

In the week ending January 24, 2026, US raw steel production was 1,778,000 net tons at an ACUR of 76.9 percent. This is up 1.3 percent from the previous week ending January 17, 2026.
Adjusted YTD production was 6,016,000 net tons at an ACUR of 75.9 percent.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell 9.7 points in January, to 84.5

Manufacturing activity mostly unchanged in January 2026

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond released its Fifth District Manufacturing activity report for January 2026 and reports manufacturing activity was mostly unchanged, according to the most recent survey.

US drill rigs running up from previous week

There were 544 drill rigs running last count, 1/23 in the US, up one rig from the previous week, down 32 rigs from 1/24/25. Canadian drillers added 5 rigs, to 231 in the week, down fourteen rigs from one year ago.

News Headlines

These activists and politicians in Minnesota have lost their minds. Are we to believe that ICE is actually marching through the streets of Minneapolis shooting and arresting people for no reason? Attacking people for no reason as is being reported? This guy, Pretti, that was shot and killed last week is being canonized by the left. They paint him as a saint. He was not, he was far from it.

They are calling Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, Donald Trump, fascists, Nazis. It is preposterous and absurd. The left is praying and paying for chaos, they want chaos, they love chaos. When will America wake up to this bullshit and demand an end to it? Can our country continue down this path without a civil war? They seek to destroy America, the America I grew up in, anyway.

They do not know my America, the America my father and his brothers fought for in Europe, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, my school friends, in Southeast Asia and so many others in the Middle East. Why would you want to destroy such a great country? A country that has done so much good for the world? Why? Do they think the devil will treat them better, because that is what they will get; pure evil. But no, Americans are too soft, they have chosen the low road, the easy way, the soft way, the way of no struggle, no just reward. The endgame of this madness is not good, and I pray we find a solution, as Americans. The hatred needs to stop.

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.”