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Automakers aren't the only manufacturers that rely on temporary workers

Sep 21, 2023
They're usually cheaper than permanent employees, but they can reduce productivity.
The UAW is demanding an end to tiered labor in the next contract. As of now, temporary workers are paid less than permanent employees.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Why some car parts are still hard to find

Sep 18, 2023
Dealers are still playing catch-up after the chip shortage and suppliers are building parts for new cars rather than those on the road.
Dealerships are hesitant to sell high-demand parts to repair shops. Instead, they're prioritizing putting those parts into new cars.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Some U.S. manufacturers find reasons to be cheerful about their prospects

Aug 24, 2023
Manufacturing has been weak for a while. But companies are optimistic about government investment and a future uptick in demand.
The Biden administration is investing in domestic industries it sees as strategically important, like clean energy. Above, wind turbine blades in a storage lot.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Manufacturing slows, but economy remains robust

Aug 3, 2023
Manufacturing slowed in July, but consumer demand and a strong service sector are shoring up the U.S. economy.
Furniture was one of the few growing sectors in July's manufacturing PMI report.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Inflation moderates in manufacturing and job market

Aug 2, 2023
As supply chains normalize and labor demand slackens, prices and wages are cooling off.
The easing of inflation is especially visible in vehicle production, said Garrett Nelson at CFRA.
Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

Tech manufacturing is causing a boom in non-residential construction

Aug 1, 2023
Biden Administration policies are geared toward fixing high-tech supply chains and accelerating the transition to EVs.
Biden speaks during a visit to a General Motors electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The manufacturing sector is slowing. That could be a sign of a coming recession.

Jul 5, 2023
It's just over 10% of the U.S. economy but it has an outsized influence.
The Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers Index — a survey that measures manufacturing activity — fell again in June for an 8th straight month.
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

White House EV investment push especially benefits one region

Jun 23, 2023
The government is lending $9.2 billion to Ford and a Korean partner to build electric vehicle battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Battery production is part of the Biden administration’s effort to promote electric vehicle development and manufacturing.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Economic indicators can't tell us the economy's whole story

Jun 23, 2023
The manufacturing sector is shrinking, according to a report. But that doesn’t account for people’s spending or the tight labor market.
"If you move beyond the vibes and look at the hard data, we’re creating jobs at a gangbusters pace, unemployment is at a 50-year low," says Justin Wolfers of the University of Michigan. "This ain’t a recession, man."
Getty Images

Scaling EVs means skipping "half steps" with hybrids, GM's Mary Barra says

Jun 8, 2023
The automaker's CEO says it won't invest in hybrids, but instead focus on batteries, a new vehicle platform and charging infrastructure.
CEO Mary Barra says GM is focused on the problem of too few charging stations for EVs. "We know it'll be a gating factor if it's not sufficient," she says. Above, she speaks with host Kai Ryssdal at GM's Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
Nancy Farghalli/Marketplace

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