More in Public Policy

Dec. 18, 2012

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The Best of 'The Last Word' 2012 (SLIDESHOW)

Can I quote you on that? It's the question every journalist asks in an interview. And each month in IndustryWeek, we quoted a variety of business, government and research leaders on manufacturing and important issues related to manufacturing. Here's a look back at some of the best of 2012.
Dec. 18, 2012

News

Cerberus to Sell its Stake in Manufacturer of Assault Rifle Used in Sandy Hook Massacre

New York City-based Cerberus Capital Management said it is "immediately" starting the formal process to sell its shares in Freedom Group, which it purchased in 2006 as a financial investment....More
Dec. 12, 2012

News

CEOs Press US Lawmakers to Avert Fiscal Cliff with 'Market-Credible Deal'

The 'political paralysis' that has fueled economic uncertainty and discouraged business investment 'must come to an end,' CEOs from the Business Roundtable declared in a letter....More
Dec. 12, 2012

Commentary

Chinese Innovation Mercantilism is Hurting American Manufacturers

On December 5, 2012, Robert D. Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), testified before the House Science Committee Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight in a hearing on "The Impact of International Technology Transfer on American Research and Development."...More
Dec. 11, 2012

blog

Manufacturing Exports Up in October but Trade Gap Hits Record

The manufacturing trade deficit hit a record $65.34 billion in October, the government announced today. While exports rose by $654 million from September to October, imports of manufactured goods shot up almost $10 billion to $151.28 billion....More
Dec. 5, 2012

News

NAM/IndustryWeek Q4 Survey: Sharp Decline in Manufacturers' Optimism

With reduced sales expectations, manufacturers appear to be pulling back on their hiring and capital spending plans....More
Nov. 27, 2012

News

US Treasury Rules China Does Not Manipulate Currency

In a twice-yearly finding to answer congressional critics of China's overwhelming bilateral trade advantage, the Treasury said Beijing did not meet the definition of a currency manipulator under U.S. law, which could spark U.S. trade sanctions....More
Nov. 25, 2012

News

Republicans Signal Flexibility on Tax Hikes as Fiscal-Cliff Talks Resume

But GOP leaders insist that Democrats must meet them halfway by pledging cuts to entitlement programs....More
Nov. 24, 2012

Commentary

The Election's Impact on Employers

As the election dust settles, it appears that the results will be a mixed bag for both industry and organized labor....More
Nov. 16, 2012

blog

Did American Capitalism Take a Wrong Turn?

Hedrick Smith is a capitalist, he reminds me midway through our conversation about his new book, “Who Stole the American Dream?” (557 pages, Random House, $30.00). He spent time as a correspondent for The New York Times in Moscow and saw up close the evils of Russian communism. And for 20 years, he has run his own production company, which has produced more than 20 award-winning PBS prime time specials and miniseries. “I have had to meet payrolls,” notes the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was part of the Pentagon Papers reporting team....More
Nov. 14, 2012

blog

US Competitiveness: Harvard Survey Reveals the Path Forward

U.S. competitiveness is headed in the wrong direction. That's the message from alumni of Harvard Business School who responded to the school's recent survey on America's competitiveness and what to do about it. Some 58% of alumni business leaders said they expect U.S. competitiveness to decline over the next three years. That means less able to compete in the global economy, less able to pay workers good wages and benefits, or both....More
Nov. 14, 2012

Infographic

Election 2012: Social Media Viewed as Critical to Obama Victory

Data in this infographic suggests that social media strategy propelled President Barack Obama to victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney....More
Nov. 13, 2012

News

IndustryWeek

In the 2012 Campaign, the Factory Floor Becomes a Star

More than 975,000 mentions were made in presidential TV advertising about jobs, outsourcing, and trade generally or specifically involving China, according to a report released today by Kantar Media’s Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG) conducted for the AAM....More
Nov. 7, 2012

News

Re-elected Obama Faces Countdown to Fiscal Cliff

Barack Obama's re-election as U.S. president set the stage Wednesday for a fresh political battle over the year-end "fiscal cliff" budget crunch which threatens to force the economy back to recession....More
Nov. 7, 2012

blog

Come Together

After months of being bombarded by political messages pointing out differences, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons called for Americans to come together after President Obama's re-election. "There is much work ahead of us, and manufacturers are ready to help the president and all elected leaders succeed in turning our economy around," Timmons said. "After all, it is time for our nation to heal and for Americans to come together.”...More
Nov. 6, 2012

Video

Why You Should Be Optimistic, and Invest in Your Manufacturing Business

Contrary to the doom and gloom you've been hearing in the mainstream media, industrial production is picking up steam. "This is a vibrant recovery for manufacturing," says Alan Beaulieau, president of ITR Economics, a firm with a 94+% forecast accuracy rate....More
Nov. 6, 2012

blog

Six Issues Employers Should Be Thinking About After the Election

Glad the election season is almost over? Well, it's not time to relax yet. In fact, employers will be confronting a number of important matters no matter who wins today's vote....More
Nov. 1, 2012

News

Silicon Valley's Heart Still with Obama But its Eyes Stray

A political gap between hip programmers and the conservative executives of the companies they serve splits the classically left-leaning industry as we gear up for the election....More
Oct. 31, 2012

News

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne Slams Mitt Romney for 'Inaccurate' Jeep Ad

Airing in the critical battleground of Ohio, the ad implies that Jeep is shipping American jobs to China as a result of President Barack Obama's policies....More
Oct. 30, 2012

News

Novozymes Says Avantec Enzyme Squeezes More Ethanol from Corn

Food security has emerged as a top item on the international agenda, and critics claim that biofuels have pushed out food production in some areas, contributing to a global rise in food prices....More
Oct. 26, 2012

News

China's Yuan Hits Fresh Record High

Analysts said China may be allowing the yuan to appreciate to defuse criticism that the unit is grossly undervalued, ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6 and an upcoming U.S. government report on exchange rates....More
Oct. 26, 2012

News

US Economy Picks Up Steam in Q3; Growth Hits 2.0%

The U.S. economy picked up steam in the third quarter after a tepid second quarter, growing at an annual pace of 2.0% as consumer spending and home sales rose, the Commerce Department said Friday....More
Oct. 25, 2012

News

IndustryWeek

US Manufacturers Remain Positive on Revenue Growth Expectations: PwC Survey

Despite continued uncertainty about the prospects of both the U.S. and global economies, the majority of U.S. industrial manufacturers remain positive regarding their revenue outlook for the next 12 months, according to the Q3 2012 Manufacturing Barometer released today by PwC US, an accounting and consulting firm. ...More
Oct. 24, 2012

News

Federal Reserve Sticks to QE3 Guns, Economic Growth 'Moderate'

In its last meeting before the U.S. presidential election -- which, if challenger Mitt Romney wins, could trigger an economic policy shift -- the Fed's rate-setting board chose to make no changes to its monetary stance....More
Oct. 19, 2012

Article

IndustryWeek

Bringing Factories Back to the City

By 2025, the number of megacities (cities with populations over 10 million) will grow from 23 to 36, the United Nations forecasts, and the population in the top 600 cities in the world will grow by 500 million....More