Great news for industry, manufacturing and economy
Great news for industry, manufacturing and the economy in general. In the past week we have had regional manufacturing activity reports from New York (surging), Philadelphia (highest level since 2021) and Richmond (flat). Industrial output and capacity ticked up 02% for July, standing 1.2% higher year-over-year while capacity utilization edged up to 76.0%.
Real GDP increased in 2026Q2
Real GDP for the US increased at an annual rate of 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2026, according to the second of three estimates released Wednesday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
US raw steel production up from previous week
In the week ending August 22, 2026, US raw steel production was 1,848,000 net tons at an ACUR of 80.0 percent, up 0.8 percent from the previous week ending August 15, 2026.
Adjusted YTD production through August 22, 2026, was 61,011,000 net tons at an ACUR of 79.0 percent.
Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index edged down
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index edged down slightly in August, decreasing by 0.8 percentage point.
Fifth District Manufacturing Survey for August 2026 reports manufacturing activity changed little
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond released its Fifth District Manufacturing Survey results for August 2026, and reports manufacturing activity changed little in the month, according to executives responding to the survey. Manufacturing firms remained relatively optimistic about the next six months, with the future indexes for shipments and new orders remaining firmly in positive territory and the employment expectations index rising.
US drill rigs running down from previous week
In the week ending August 21, 2026 there were 588 drill rigs running in the US, down five rigs from the previous week, up fifty rigs from one year ago. Canadian drillers dropped three rigs to 216, up thirty-six rigs from one year ago.
News Headlines
On Tuesday we found out Country music start Dolly Parton had passed away at 80 years of age. What a great talent she was! She will be missed. RIP, Dolly.
On Thursday, in his continuing trade war with the Canadian government, our President has renamed Lake Ontario Lake America. As he re-named the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, this will likely affect only Americans in both cases, but it will piss off the Canadians.
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.”
