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💴 This Week in Manufacturing

New data suggests the U.S. manufacturing sector may be entering the early stages of a demand recovery. Factory activity expanded for the second straight month as new orders, production, and order backlogs all increased. However, the rebound comes with familiar challenges: rising steel and aluminum prices are pushing up input costs, and manufacturers remain cautious about hiring. At the same time, structural shifts in the industry continue. Apple’s expansion of computer production in Texas and ongoing efforts to strengthen defense supply chains both highlight the growing focus on domestic manufacturing capacity.

This week’s headlines spotlight the industry’s dual fixation on jobs and major investments such as GE and solar. Ideally the two will balance each other out for a positive change!

Our first podcast, from The Manufacturing Report, covers some thorny issues within the ongoing international tariffs. The second podcast, from Augmented Ops, covers another side of tariffs impacts: shifting supply chains.

The Social Video and Fun Fact each showcase iconic American manufacturer Apple as it gradually reorients production to the U.S.

Thanks for joining us!

⚙ Manufacturing Headlines

• GE Boosts U.S. Manufacturing with $1 Billion Investment [Guru Focus]

• New Report Calls U.S. Equipment Manufacturing Industry “Selectively Strong” [AEM]

• Jobs report likely to show manufacturing continuing to lose jobs [Marketplace]

• Manufacturing Industry Trends & Why Leaders Are Confident [Forvis Mazars]

• U.S. solar’s push for domestic bliss [PV Magazine]

COMMENTARY

♨️ The Manufacturing Recovery Is Showing Up in the Data

If you’ve been looking for signals that U.S. manufacturing demand is turning a corner, this week delivered some encouraging evidence.

Signs of a manufacturing rebound are emerging. U.S. factory activity expanded for a second consecutive month, with new orders and production rising while order backlogs reached their highest level since 2022.

At the same time, manufacturers are facing familiar pressures as metal prices climb and hiring remains cautious. Meanwhile, Apple is expanding computer production in Texas and defense leaders continue working to broaden the domestic supplier base.

Upshot: Manufacturing is cyclical, and recoveries typically start with exactly this pattern: new orders rise first, production follows, and hiring eventually catches up.

FROM THE FEED

📱Apple to hire 20K US workers

🤨Did You Know?

In FY2025, Apple's global revenue surpassed

$416B

with close to 40% generated in the Americas.

^{Source: Statista}

🎧 Podcasts Worth A Listen