Demographics

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) continued to edge up in February, reaching 96.3 (2007 = 100). The measure of manufacturing production increased 0.8%, following a revised 0.4% increase in January, and outpaced the Federal Reserve’s national production index increase of 0.6%. Manufacturing production in the Midwest was 5.9% higher in February than a year earlier. National output was 2.4% higher in February than the year before....More

There was so much noise coming out of Washington in 2012 about the fiscal cliff, budget deficits, taxes and especially jobs that these topics became the primary conversation at many a holiday cocktail party. Over the past few weeks I’ve been asked about the current state of offshoring vs. onshoring at least a half a dozen times. Some of the inquisitors have come from a reasonably informed perspective, while others have attempted to cloak the issue of onshoring in some form of sociological or moral high ground related to the U.S. workers’ entitlement to jobs....More

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 13 urged Southeast Asian nations to promote workers' rights and improve labor conditions as a means of spurring economic growth....More

Fixing GM's own operations in Europe remains the company's top priority. GM does have new labor agreements with unions in both Poland and Great Britain....More

Governments, business and society must all play a role in renewing our economies, solving societal problems and creating jobs, says CEO....More