by - December 2, 2025 1:00 pm
Tough as steel
We’ve written plenty about the booming steel industry in Northeast Arkansas — an industry that is about to become a more dominant part of the state’s economy. Nucor Steel, which…
Tag: manufacturing
by - October 1, 2025 1:22 pm
Report: Manufacturing down in mid-America, Arkansas exports down 7.1%
The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, which includes Arkansas, points to a decline in manufacturing activity and overall flat or declining economic conditions during September. The Business Conditions Index,…
by - February 13, 2025 10:46 am
State of the State 2025: Energy, workforce among top issues for manufacturing sector
Energy and workforce availability, higher costs, and global uncertainty primarily related to tariffs and trade wars are on the minds of U.S. and Arkansas manufacturing industry executives as they navigate…
by - September 2, 2024 12:46 pm
State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Arkansas’ manufacturing sector producing more ‘with fewer workers’
Arkansas’ manufacturing sector accounts for 12% of the state’s total payroll jobs and could add more than 1,000 jobs if recent growth rates continue, according to economist Greg Kaza. Job…
by - January 4, 2024 12:18 pm
U.S. manufacturing activity contracts at slower rate in December
Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted in December at a slower rate than in November, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). December was the 14th consecutive…
by - July 5, 2023 2:11 pm
Manufacturing activity declines for 8th straight month
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted faster in June as optimism fades about the second half of 2023, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). June was the…
by - December 1, 2022 3:01 pm
Manufacturing sector contracts for first time in more than 2 years, ISM says
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November for the first time since May 2020 after 29 consecutive months of growth, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)….
by - March 1, 2022 1:04 pm
Manufacturing sector growth accelerates in February
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector rose at a faster rate in February, from the previous month, amid strong demand and waning pandemic-related impacts, according to the Institute for Supply…
by - December 1, 2021 1:17 pm
Manufacturing sector expanded more quickly in November
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector increased at a faster rate in November, from October, as pandemic-related issues continued to limit production growth, according to the Institute for Supply Management…
by - May 3, 2021 11:28 am
Manufacturing sector growth slows in April; PMI falls 4 points
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector increased at a slower rate in April, while the overall economy grew for the 11th consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management…
by - January 16, 2021 9:40 am
Pandemic pauses recent gains in Arkansas’ manufacturing sector employment
After more than a decade of struggling to gain employment momentum, Arkansas’ manufacturing sector began showing signs of renewed life in early 2018. And then the calendar turned to March…
by - August 26, 2020 10:37 am
Manufactured goods orders rose 11.2% in July
New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 11.2%, or by $23.2 billion, to $230.7 billion in July, from June, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau released Wednesday…
by - July 1, 2020 10:52 am
Manufacturing sector activity rose in June; PMI at 52.6%
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector increased as the overall economy grew for the second consecutive month in June following one month of contraction in April, according to the Institute…
by - February 27, 2020 3:05 pm
‘Resilience’ in manufacturing could continue but at a slower pace
While several economists say Arkansas’ manufacturing sector was healthier than expected in 2019, the struggling industry added only 5,400 jobs — an increase of 3.4% — in the past decade….
by - November 28, 2019 10:29 am
Manufactured goods orders increased 0.6% in October
New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 0.6%, or by $1.5 billion, to $248.7 billion in October after declining 1.4% in September, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census…
by - June 26, 2019 12:31 pm
Manufactured goods orders declined 1.3% in May
New orders for manufactured durable goods fell 1.3%, or by $3.3 billion, to $243.4 billion in May, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau announced Wednesday (June 26) the May…
by - February 2, 2019 12:48 pm
Arkansas manufacturing sector faces dearth of skilled workers with tight labor pool, low unemployment
Futuristic fears that robots and artificial intelligence advances will replace workers in the manufacturing sector are not exactly panning out as factory employers in Arkansas and the rest of the…
by - November 12, 2018 7:48 pm
Northeast Arkansas leads state’s manufacturing rebound
When the state’s manufacturing sector ebbed to its lowest point following the Great Recession, the one bright spot were factories in Northeast Arkansas at or near full production that continued…
by - August 19, 2018 9:13 pm
Manufacturing group warns of tariff problems
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), typically an ally of President Donald Trump, has called on the Trump administration to “get Beijing back to the negotiating table.” NAM President and…
by - August 12, 2018 11:37 am
Digital manufacturing often stuck in ‘pilot purgatory’
A new McKinsey & Co. survey on digital manufacturing has found that most manufacturers are stuck in “pilot purgatory” when it comes to the practice. By “pilot purgatory,” McKinsey means…