Core Inflation Climbs 3.1% in July as Tariff Costs Start to Bite
US consumer prices rose 2.7% in July compared with a year ago, with core inflation climbing 3.1% as tariffs under President Donald Trump’s trade policy began lifting the costs. While energy prices fell 1.6% year-over-year, higher prices for food, housing, medical...
CFM Picks Heflin, Alabama for $7 Million Plant
Contour Fabrications and Mechanical will build a $7 million plant in Heflin, Alabama, creating up to 30 jobs. The facility will refurbish and maintain large steel reels for Southwire’s nearby cable manufacturing plants. Supported by $2 million from the Growing Alabama...
Rockwell Automation Commits $2 Billion to Expand U.S. Manufacturing Operations
Rockwell Automation will invest $2 billion over the next five years in its U.S. manufacturing plants, workforce, and digital infrastructure, with most spending focused in Ohio and Wisconsin. The company has resumed hiring after last year’s job cuts, though no specific...
Merck Slashing 6,000 Jobs, With 58 at New Jersey Headquarters
As part of a global restructuring, Merck plans to cut roughly 6,000 jobs to reduce expenses by $3 billion a year by 2027. A New Jersey WARN Act filing shows 58 positions will be lost at the Rahway campus, the company’s world headquarters. The cuts will hit...
Tariff Truce Between U.S. and China Stretched to Nov. 10
The U.S. has extended its pause on additional retaliatory tariffs for Chinese imports until Nov. 10, citing “significant steps” from China in ongoing trade talks. The move follows a May agreement in which both countries reduced certain duties, easing tensions in their...
Economic Outlook Brightens, Risks Still Loom for Seattle
Seattle’s latest economic forecast shows improvement, with 2025 general fund revenue now projected at $1.63 billion, which is $62.8 million higher than earlier estimates. The brighter view comes as tariffs have so far had less economic impact than expected and lower...
Welspun to Invest $150M in Arkansas Plant
Welspun Tubular LLC will invest $150 million to build a new Longitudinally Submerged Arc Welded (LSAW) line pipe mill and coating facility and coating facility at its Little Rock, Arkansas site, creating 300 jobs. The expansion will make it the only U.S. facility...
Apple Unveils $100B U.S. Manufacturing Plan
Apple is committing $100 billion to expand U.S. manufacturing, creating 20,000 jobs and launching its American Manufacturing Program to strengthen domestic supply chains. The initiative includes a $2.5 billion investment in Corning’s Kentucky facility and partnerships...
Wage Growth Slows Sharply for American Workers
Wage growth in the U.S. is slowing, with the lowest-paid workers seeing the steepest drop, which is down to 3.7% in June from a 7.5% peak in late 2022, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta data. Pay for the higher-income workers American workers rose 4.7% in...
Conference Board: More CEOs Plan Job Cuts
CEO confidence in the U.S. economy is rising, but more executives plan to cut jobs than hire in 2025. According to the new data, 93% of businesses are turning to automation and passing on tariff-related expenses to consumers. CEO expectations for workforce cuts over...