Highest level since May, Chicago Business Barometer rebounded 11.7 points

Highest level since May, Chicago Business Barometer rebounded 11.7 points to 58.8 in September. The Barometer is back in expansion territory after one month below the neutral 50 mark and its now at its highest level since May.

The rise was driven by increases in Production, New Orders, Supplier Deliveries and Order Backlogs.

US raw steel production up from previous week

In the week ending September 26, 2026, US raw steel production was 1,845,000 net tons at an ACUR of 80.5 percent., up 3.4 percent from the previous week ending September 19, 2026.
Adjusted YTD production through September 266, 2026, was 70,166,000 net tons at an ACUR of 79.1 percent.

Consumer Confidence Index fell 6.7 points in September

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell 6.7 points in September from August, following two prior months of softening. In my view, this ALL has to do with the price of fuel. The economy in general is doing just fine, once we get the rogue mullahs out of the way in Persia, it will be smooth sailing, barring any new adverse geopolitical situations.

Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey results for September reports manufacturing output growth accelerated sharply in September

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey results for September and reports manufacturing output growth accelerated sharply in September, according to executives responding to the survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, jumped thirteen points, a reading suggestive of a robust pace of output expansion.

Other measures of manufacturing activity also pointed to rapid gains this month.

Perceptions of broader business conditions continued to improve in September, albeit unevenly. Employment growth picked up, price and wage pressures increased broadly, finished goods pricing rose, raw materials pricing rose, wages and benefits rose.

Expectations are for continued growth in manufacturing activity six months from now.

90,000 private sector jobs created in September, 70,000 expected. We are growing…

GDP-Q3 came in at 2.2 percent

The third and final estimate of third quarter GDP came in at 2.2 percent, a nice improvement over the initial two estimates at 1.5 percent. Additionally, inflation readings came in cooler than forecast.

US drill rigs running down from previous week

On October 2, 2026 there were 598 drill rigs running in the US, one rig less than the previous week, but up forty-nine rigs from one year ago. Canadian drillers added eight rigs, to 216, up twenty-six rigs from one year ago.

UK security forces arrested five men at a RAF military base housing US forces. They were suspected of plotting an attack. So what did the progressive government do? Let them out on bail! Where is the common sense in this? There is none. These guys are planning their next move, you can count on that.

Oil moving through Hormuz and alternate routes has nearly reached pre-war levels as the blockade and severe sanctions keep their chokehold on Tehran.

In other good news: Biden-era fuel-economy standards are now officially dead. The Trump administration on Monday released a drastic rollback of regulations that required automakers to build cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars.

Trump announced a massive LNG energy buildout for the state of Alaska on Wednesday, a couple hundred billion dollars worth which will put the US in the drivers seat for LNG production within five years. Not only will the citizens of Alaska benefit greatly but the country and the world will benefit from this steady, and stable source of supply.

I am telling you, the things this administration is doing for the country are phenomenal, the economy is exploding. If Republicans had any idea how to sell the good news the mid-term election would be a cake walk, but no, they can’t see the forest for the trees, as usual.

The shit has really hit the fan with the political ads against Trump on social media. Thing is, Mr. Trump is NOT on the ballot. What will these losers do without him? They offer ZERO policy solutions, only higher taxes, more spending on social programs (certainly not for infrastructure, their Biden infrastructure bill ((Build Back Better, remember that? ) was a joke, just a rip-off of taxpayer dollars which did nothing), not for the military, not for education, they even want to stop Super Intelligence growth. They want to re-open the borders (they need more voters, how will they get them when they are here? Giving them entitlements). It is very disconcerting because I don’t think a vast majority of the electorate are educated to what is actually happening in this country and around the world. People generally believe what they want to believe, not necessarily facts.

The seven day average for oil clearing the Strait oof Hormuz is 14.19 million barrels a day, approaching the prewar baseline of 17.13 million. Most of what’s missing are Iranian exports stopped by the US blockade. The recent resumption of oil flowing through the Saudi bypass pipeline, followed by accelerated loadings at the port of Yanbu to transit the Red Sea, will unlock more exports.” WSJ

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