Made in America: Hot Springs sets record for goods exports in 2015

Editor’s note: Each Sunday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Made In America,” a round-up of state and global manufacturing news.

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HOT SPRINGS SETS RECORD FOR GOODS EXPORTS IN 2015, AMONG TOP U.S METRO AREAS
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently listed the city of Hot Springs among the 63 metropolitan areas across the U.S. that set a record for goods exports in 2015. The International Trade Administration’s 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview indicates that goods exports from Hot Springs reached a record $96 million in 2015, up 21.5% or $17 million from the previous year.

“Hot Springs is one of 63 metropolitan areas across our nation that set a record for goods exports last year,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “The Department of Commerce continues to focus its services on assisting more Hot Springs-based firms sell their ‘Made in America’ products to global consumers, which will support additional growth and good-paying jobs.”

Overall, U.S. metropolitan area goods exports exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2015, and accounted for 89% of total U.S. goods exports last year. One hundred and fifty-six metropolitan areas tallied merchandise exports worth more than $1 billion in 2015.

U.S. INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SLIPS 0.4% IN AUGUST, MOST MANUFACTURING INDEXES POST DECLINES
U.S. industrial production decreased 0.4% in August after rising 0.6% in July. Manufacturing output also declined 0.4% in August, reversing its increase in July, according to the Federal Reserve.

During the month, the production of non-durables moved down 0.2%, and the indexes for durables and for other manufacturing (publishing and logging) fell 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively.

Many durable goods industries posted declines of nearly 1% or more, with the largest drop, 1.9%, recorded by machinery. Within non-durables, gains for food, beverage, and tobacco products and for paper were more than offset by declines elsewhere; the largest decrease, 2.1%, was recorded by textile and product mills. Following two consecutive monthly increases, the index for utilities fell back 1.4% in August. Even so, the index was 1.7% above its year-earlier level, as hot temperatures this summer boosted the usage of air conditioning. The output of mining moved up 1% in August, its fourth consecutive monthly increase following an extended downturn.

NATION’S LARGEST COUNTIES SEE ALMOST EVEN SPLIT IN OVER-THE-YEAR WEEKLY WAGE DECREASES, INCREASES
Average weekly wages for the nation decreased to $1,043, a 0.5% decrease, during the year ending in the first quarter of 2016. Among the 344 largest counties, 167 had over-the-year decreases in average weekly wages.

McLean, Ill. (part of the Bloomington metro area), had the largest percentage wage decrease among the largest U.S. counties (−13.3%). On the other hand, 164 counties experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Clayton, Georgia, (part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area), had the largest percentage increase in average weekly wages (15.5%), followed by King, Wash.; San Mateo and Venture, Calif., and Merrimack, N.H.

To view the BLS data, click here.