The Institute for Supply Management | Report On Business for November

Issued on Monday this week: economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded for the eighteenth month in November and the overall economy grew for the 66th consecutive month say the nations supply executives. The report was issued by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

The November PMI registered 58.7 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from Octobers reading of 59 percent, indicating continued expansion in manufacturing. The New Orders Index increased 0.2 percentage points to 66 percent. The Production Index decreased 0.4 percentage point to 64.4 percent. The Employment Index grew for the seventeenth month.”

This is all good news heading into the final month of 2014.

Raw Steel Production

… decreased 2.5 percent last week as mills operated at an Average Capability Utilization Rate (ACUR) of 76.3 percent. In the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 76.2 percent. Thus far this year, mills have operated at an ACUR of 77.1 percent up from the same period last year when the ACUR was 76.9 percent.

The View from Cabo San Lucas

I have no further economic news for manufacturing this week. I have escaped the cold weather in Cleveland and I am relaxing in Cabo San Lucas for the next few weeks. I’ve got buddies coming down to fish….we are intending to catch some marlin, yellow fin tuna and dorado. Any or all will certainly be a pleasure to fight. We always release the marlin unharmed but the tuna and dorado are too tasty and make great table fare.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season, spending time with your families and loved ones. Don’t forget the reason for the season….

I suspect “The View” to be short and sweet for several weeks.

Ebola is off the front page; ISIS is off the front page. These events have been replaced, unfortunately, by the race baiters inciting civil unrest in our country. Our police officers put their lives on the line every day, having to make split second decisions in dangerous situations. I do not believe they go out looking to kill black Americans, that is a ridiculous presumption. What if Michael Brown were a white male? Do you think the officer would have responded differently? I do not. Eric Garner, a known seller of illegal tobacco products, died in an altercation with police in New York. Though I believe excessive force was used, I do not believe the color of his skin (he was a black American) had any bearing on what took place. A young black male was recently shot by police while waving a gun at passersby. Unfortunately the gun turned out to be a toy. The officer did not know that and the youth did not obey the orders given by the officer. Again, I do not believe the color of his skin had any bearing on what occurred. The officer responded to a possible dangerous situation. It is common sense folks; If you have committed or are committing a crime and the police tell you to jump, you had better respectfully answer “how high?” There is no good reason for all this nonsense….in my view.

Have a great weekend,
God bless America.