Good and Bad for U.S. Manufacturing
Some good and bad news for manufactures in the US. A quicker-than-expected recovery in the sector is resulting in supply disruptions and higher costs for materials used in products meeting increased demand. (Wall Street Journal)
Prices for steel, aluminum, lumber and other materials are rising in response to higher order volumes. Commodity supply chains are now clogged with orders, causing some producers to add weekend hours and overtime for employees. Orders that took a week or two to fill during the summer now require six to eight weeks, according to manufacturers coping with extended wait times for essential supplies.
