Industrial production

Getting US industrial production unstuck

Industrial production in the United States has been in a rut since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2009. Despite periods of economic growth over the past 15 years, manufacturing output has struggled to regain its pre-crisis momentum. This stagnation presents a significant challenge for policymakers and business leaders alike. 

This is JP Hampstead, co-host of the Bring It Home podcast with Craig Fuller. Welcome to the 14th edition of our newsletter, which asks if industrial policy is the way...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/getting-us-industrial-production-unstuck

Better-than-expected industrial production data hides softness

U.S. industrial production increased more than expected in January, driven by a surge in utilities output due to cold weather that obscured underlying weakness in manufacturing and mining, which both declined. The Federal Reserve reported on Friday that industrial production rose 0.5% last month, surpassing economists’ forecasts of a 0.3% gain.

The better-than-expected headline figure comes after a 1% jump in December, which was revised up from the initially reported 0.9% increase. Compared to a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/better-than-expected-industrial-production-data-hides-softness

FTR: Dry van volume ‘holding quite strong’

Continued strength in the industrial and manufacturing sector could support freight transportation markets in the second half of 2022 despite softness within the consumer economy, FTR Associates said during a webinar on key issues in transportation.

“A slowdown is different than a recession. If we are in a recession, right now, I’ll take it. This is an environment that feels radically different than any other recession that I could ever tell you about,” said FTR President and CEO Eric Starks,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ftr-dry-van-volume-holding-quite-strong

Weather slows Old Dominion’s hot start to year

Severe winter weather only impacts one week of Old Dominion's first quarter

Less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ: ODFL) announced Tuesday that severe winter weather slowed its operations for one week during February. For the month, revenue per day increased 9.2% year-over-year as tonnage climbed 5.9% and revenue per hundredweight, or yield, increased by roughly 3%.

Winter storms during February were a detractor to Old Dominion’s hot start to the year. In January, daily revenue increased 14.6% year-over-year with tonnage climbing 11.9%.

“Old...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/weather-slows-old-dominions-hot-start-to-year

Flatbed is making a comeback

Chart of the Week:  Truckstop.com 7-day rate per mile Flatbed/Van/Reefer – USA SONAR: TSTOPFRPM.USA, TSTOPVRPM.USA, TSTOPRRPM.USA

After spending much of 2020 below van and reefer levels, flatbed spot rates have surpassed their van cousins this month, with the gap narrowing on reefer. According to Truckstop.com’s seven-day average spot rates reported by its users, the average flatbed spot rate moved up a cent to $2.85 per mile this past week while van rates fell dramatically from $2.85 to $2.71...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flatbed-is-making-a-comeback

Freight markets need another source of demand

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 65 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

We may be seeing signs of a traditional January lull, but at a much higher level than years past. The Outbound...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-markets-need-another-source-of-demand

White Paper – Industrial Freight Review 2020

At its most basic level, industrial freight is essentially any freight tangentially associated with manufacturing and construction (and the requisite inputs and outputs involved). Thus, when one refers to industrial freight, it means products such as lumber, automotive parts and finished vehicles, steel, heavy equipment, construction materials, etc.

Industrials are very cyclical in nature, and demand for industrial-related products tends to rise and fall with the U.S. business cycle. As...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/white-paper-industrial-freight-review-2020

Watch out trucking, industrial sector has a pulse

Chart of the Week: Total Rail Carloads, Chemical Rail Carloads, Motor Vehicle Rail Carloads – USA  SONAR: RTOTC.USA, RTOCH.USA, RTOMV.USA

The latest rail carload data is showing that the industrial side of the economy, which is the backbone for a large amount of freight movement in the U.S., has finally started to recover after hovering on the floor for over three months. Increasing carload volumes for raw materials like chemicals and motor vehicles are good leading indicators of future...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/watch-out-trucking-industrial-sector-has-a-pulse

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