US Security at Risk Due to Foreign Suppliers, AAM Report Warns
U.S. national security and the health of its defense industrial base are “threatened by our military’s growing and dangerous reliance on foreign nations for the raw materials, parts, and finished products needed to defend the American people,” according to a new report issued by the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
Manufacturing Outlook Edges Up: MAPI Survey
The manufacturing sector showed slight improvement in the latest quarterly Survey on the Business Outlook from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI). The research group said the data "imply that the manufacturing sector is holding its own in uncertain economic times."
US Manufacturing Growing More Energy Efficient
Total energy consumption in the manufacturing sector decreased by 17% from 2002 to 2010, according to data released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Manufacturing gross output decreased by only 3% over the same period. Taken together, these data indicate a significant decline in the amount of energy used per unit of gross manufacturing output. The significant decline in energy intensity reflects both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix. Consumption of every fuel used for manufacturing declined over this period.
Imports Unusually High in February: Zepol
U.S. vessel imports in February were down 5% from January but up 15% from February of 2012, even with one less day this year, according to Zepol Corp., which tracks U.S. trade data. The total TEU (twenty-foot-container) count was over 1.4 million and total shipments were over 720,000.
February imports have not reached this level for four years, Zepol noted. The company said it appears that import levels are reverting back to the numbers seen before the recession.
