North American Steel Output Increased
North American steel output increased by 4.9% year on year in March to 10.29 million tons. Steel production in the USA inched up by 5.3% year on year to 7.26 million tons. AMM
Global crude steel production rose by 4% year on year in March, partly attributed to Chinese production.
US Raw Steel Production Inched Up Last Week
US raw steel production inched up 0.2 percent last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 76.3 percent. In the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 73.8 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 28,000,000 tons compared to the prox 27,500,000 tons produced in the like period last year. AMM
Consumer Confidence Rose in April
Consumer Confidence rose 1.7 points to 128.7 in April, surprising the consensus which anticipated a decline. The index improved in April for both the present situation and future expectations. Wells Fargo
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) “Advance” Estimate of First Quarter 2018 GDP
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its “advance” estimate of first quarter 2018 GDP and reports real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.3 percent. The Bureau emphasized that the Q1 estimate is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision. The “second” estimate for the first quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on May 30, 2018.
The US Census Bureau released its monthly Advance Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders for March 2018:
- New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased 2.6 percent. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 3.5 percent February increase.
- Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up ten of the last eleven months, increased 0.3 percent.
- Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up twenty of the last twenty-one months, increased 0.1 percent following a 0.4 percent February increase.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) Declined to +0.10 in March
Led by slower growth in production and employment related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to +0.10 in March. The index’s three month moving average, CFNAI-MA3 decreased to +0.27 in March from +0.31 in February.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity Suggests Slowing
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond released its Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing activity and reports suggest that manufacturing activity in the district slowed in April, its first negative reading since September 2016. The index was weighed down by a contraction in shipments and new orders. Surveyed firms were generally optimistic that they would see overall growth in the next six months.
Fox Business News Interview
On Thursday afternoon the 26th, I was interviewed by Liz Claman on Fox Business News to draw a distinction between increased demand for steel vs. the Sec. 232 steel tariffs as the cause for the increasing steel prices in the marketplace. Click on the image or view the clip here.
Removing Statues
This confuses me; over the past couple years the lefties have forced communities to remove statues and memorials to those involved in the Civil War, attempting to hide our history as a nation with charges of racism. Total bullshit in my view.
In today’s local newspaper, the Plain Dealer, here in Cleveland, there is an article out of Montgomery, Alabama, where the nation’s first memorial to the victims of lynching was just opened to the public on Thursday. What? Is this not blatant racism against white people? Who wants to see such a statue? A man on a horse must come down or be moved to a closet somewhere but this is fine?
I do not condone those actions, they were evil, my point is, it is a part of our history as a nation, correct? Again, the left is trying to change everything we are as a people, to fit their twisted narrative. I do not like it.
Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX
I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….
“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”
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.”
