Economics

Metalworking Index Steady Again in October

The GBI: Metalworking continues to hover just below the threshold for expansion.

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Activity Sees Minor Drop in June

Positive results in employment trends and production are offset by supplier deliveries, among other components.

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Metalworking Index Rebounds in May but Short of Expansion

Activity picked up again after April’s stall reflecting tariff policy’s impact on manufacturing.

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After Brief Expansion, Metalworking Index Fell to 46 in April

Metalworking industry begins to feel the impact of tariff uncertainty as business activity slows.

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Last Chance! 2025 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey Still Open Through April 30

Don’t miss out! Modern Machine Shop's Top Shops Benchmarking Survey is still open — but not for long. This is your last chance to a receive free, customized benchmarking report that includes actionable feedback across several shopfloor and business metrics. 

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Metalworking Index Reaches Expansion for First Time in 2 Years

  After two years of contraction, the Metalworking Index has finally turned a corner. A recovery that started in October has reached a milestone, fueled by increased production and new orders, signaling cautious optimism for the industry.  

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Metalworking Activity Continues to Improve in February

On the cusp of expansion, key index components reveal strengthening business conditions.

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Fives
DN Solutions
Okuma MCR-A5CII

Metalworking Index Continues Steady Climb in September

The pace is slow, but the GBI: Metalworking is moving in the right direction for the third consecutive month.

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Index Continues Climb into 2025

Steady improvement is short of expansion but component readings and future outlook remain strong.

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Metalworking Index Shows Continued Recovery

December marks third consecutive month of metalworking improvement on the heels of increased supplier deliveries.

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Optimism Grows as Metalworking Index Improves Again in November

A sharp increase in future business expectations underscores hopeful conditions in 2025.

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Metalworking Contraction Slows Slightly in October

While still in a state of contraction, some indicators are improving in the metalworking market.

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Market Indicators Continue to Soften in Metalworking

The overall metalworking index is down more than a point, but future business is up slightly.

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Metalworking Activity Stabilizes in July

July closed at 44.2, which interrupts what had been three months straight of accelerating contraction.

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TG Gripserts
Okuma MCR-A5CII
YCM Alliance
TG Gripserts

Metalworking Index Inches up to 49.0 in August

The GBI: Metalworking continues to hover just below expansion, but shops are cautiously optimistic.

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Activity Trends Down Again in June

The Metalworking Index closed at 44.3 in June, down 1.2 points relative to May, marking a 2024 low.

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Metalworking Activity Trends Downward in May

Accelerated contraction and declines in business optimism span manufacturing segments. Odds are that broad-reaching economic factors are at play.

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Metalworking Activity Trends Slightly Downward in April

The interruption after what had been three straight months of slowing contraction may indicate growing conservatism as interest rates and inflation fail to come down.

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Metalworking Activity Holds Steady in March

Overall metalworking activity leveled off in March, but not to a point of concern.

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Metalworking Activity is on a Roll, Relatively Speaking

February closed at 47.7, up 1.4 points relative to January, marking the third straight month of slowed contraction.

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Metalworking Activity Starts Year With Slowing Contraction

The GBI: Metalworking welcomed the new year with slowed contraction of components for the second month in a row.

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Muratec
EMUGE FRANKEN
JTEKT
YCM Alliance

Metalworking Index Sees Little Change in July

The GBI: Metalworking remains stable at 48.3, with July in nearly the same position as June. 

Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence

Metalworking Activity Shows Signs of Stabilizing Contraction

Metalworking activity continued to contract in what has become a rather characteristic GBI ‘dance.’

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Metalworking Activity Remained on a Path of Contraction

Steady contraction of production, new orders and backlog drove accelerated contraction in November.

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Metalworking Activity Continues its Roller Coaster Year of Contraction

October marks a full year of metalworking activity contracting, barring just one isolated month of reprieve in February.

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Metalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction

Metalworking activity has contracted since October of 2022.

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Metalworking Activity Continued to Contract Steadily in August

The degrees of accelerated contraction are relatively minor, contributing to a mostly stable index despite the number of components contracting.

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Metalworking Activity Stayed Consistent in July

Metalworking activity hung together better in July, with all but one GBI component contracting.

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Western Gage Corp.
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Gravotech
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