Record capital goods inflows and higher industrial supplies overshadow weak exports, with data suggesting a lift for manufacturing despite the wider trade gap.
Despite a decline in the headline factory orders measure, there was resilience in underlying capital goods demand, a proxy for business equipment investment.
Factories report fastest growth since May 2022, led by domestic demand and inventory building, per S&P Global, though ISM data pointed to weakness in output.
Refining rare earths is an even bigger challenge, as their processing creates pollution and poses significant health risks to the public, one expert said.
Record capital goods inflows and higher industrial supplies overshadow weak exports, with data suggesting a lift for manufacturing despite the wider trade gap.
Despite a decline in the headline factory orders measure, there was resilience in underlying capital goods demand, a proxy for business equipment investment.
Factories report fastest growth since May 2022, led by domestic demand and inventory building, per S&P Global, though ISM data pointed to weakness in output.
Refining rare earths is an even bigger challenge, as their processing creates pollution and poses significant health risks to the public, one expert said.