Economy

Commerce reported that October retail sales, at $526.5 billion, were up 0.3% compared to September and up 3.1% annually. NRF reported that October retail sales were up 0.2% from September to October on a seasonally adjusted basis and up 4.2% on an unadjusted basis.

Outlook provides insights to help leaders navigate uncertainty and increase operational flexibility for the future amid ongoing volatility. in costs and policy decisions

Orders for unit handling equipment nearly doubled from August to September.

Survey illustrates concerns of procurement leaders – representing companies with a combined annual turnover of $5 trillion – and provides exclusive insights into the key challenges and opportunities impacting procurement.

Respondents cited an economic downturn as the No. 1 ris, with 46% identifying it as a top risk impacting procurement and 70% indicating they are very likely to cut costs over the next year.

An increase of 42% in unit handling equipment orders contributed to a month that saw 58% improvement over the same period in 2018.

Although a recession in the next six months appears unlikely, business conditions for the equipment finance industry are also unlikely to improve materially over the rest of the year, particularly for equipment verticals that serve the manufacturing sector.

Warehouses smaller than 120,000 square-feet growing in demand, due largely to continued e-commerce growth.

High labor cost and quick time-to-market have driven U.S. manufacturers to be more aggressive with the adoption of industrial artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

Organizers pledge the event will return in 2020, calling it part of an important movement for the nation’s jobs, communities and economy.

Report predicts double-digit growth for 2019 and 2020, headwinds expected in 2021. Service, maintenance and aftermarket sales will become an increasingly important part of system integrators' business models.

CEMA estimates shipments for the first six months of 2019 increased 1.8% compared to the same period in 2018, with total shipments of $8.60 billion.

More than 86% of survey respondents believe smart factory initiatives will be the main driver of manufacturing competitiveness in the next five years, though only 51% are making/have made investments.

Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reports July billed sales were up 8.0%.

More than 180,000 robots have been shipped to American companies since 2010, and more than 1.2 million new manufacturing jobs have been created during the same time.