New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods fell in February as the sector continued to struggle with the lingering effects of a robust dollar and lower oil prices. While other data on Thursday showed an increase in the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week, revisions to the prior weeks’ figures showed the labor market was much stronger than previously thought.
Category Archives: CONSUMER GOODS
At the swanky Prudential Center in the heart of Boston’s shopping district, the Yogasmoga boutique stands out for its sparse, minimalist aesthetic. At the entrance, there is a large white orchid on a table surrounded by neatly folded tank tops and yoga pants known for their high-tech fabrics. Soothing, Eastern-inspired music is piped in, giving the space a peaceful ambiance.
Amazon Fulfillment Services and Air Transport Services Group announced an agreement to operate an air cargo network serving Amazon customers in the U.S.
The sporting goods industry is in a funk. Less than a week after the Sports Authority Inc. filed for bankruptcy, rival Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. on Tuesday reported weak holiday results and offered a dim near-term outlook as it spends more to revamp stores and build up its website.
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Forced to reckon with a prolonged period of low energy prices, oil chiefs at the annual IHS CERAWeek energy gathering sought to portray themselves as steely survivors in an industry grappling with spending cuts and asset sales.
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Washington state suffered an economic impact of $769.5 million due to labor disruptions at West Coast ports this past year, according to one of the most detailed analyses of the impact of a labor disruption on U.S. business and industry.
(This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on the above link.)
Intermodal continues to carry the day for the North American freight railroad industry, registering a gain of nearly 20% for the week ending Feb. 20, 2016, the third consecutive week of double-digit growth, compared to the prior-year period, and offsetting weak carload traffic—which includes a sharp drop in crude oil.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday unveiled a new installment of its “Freight Rail Works” campaign, which highlights the role freight railroads play in the national economy. The 2016 campaign explains the amount of freight — from cars to consumer goods to large-scale industrial materials — moved every year for each American, according to an AAR press release.
A glimmer of hope that U.S. manufacturing was starting to rebound at the start of the year may have been quickly been dashed, leading to increasing concerns about the state of the overall economy, while separate reports show consumers don’t feel as good as they did last year, but they are still in the mood for home buying.
The second annual Secure Rail conference drew more than 100 people to Orlando, Fla., last week. Held Feb. 9-10 and organized by Progressive Railroading, the event addressed physical and cyber security in the North American rail industry.
For a look inside the event, follow this link to view a slideshow of conference highlights.