The Economy

Losing 15 Factories a Day

Nov. 15, 2011

I came across this unfortunate statistic in Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper. Rep. Betty Sutton of Ohio recently stated: "Every day in the United States, we are losing 15 factories." The paper's PolitiFact editor checked out the numbers with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. While the rate varied from year to year, over the 10 year period from 2001 to 2010, the United States lost 56,190 manufacturing facilities, or a daily average of 15 plants. Sutton is correct, and it's a national tragedy.

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Steve Minter Blog | Executive Editor

Focus: Global Economy & International Trade

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An award-winning editor, Executive Editor Steve Minter covers global economic and international trade issues, tackling subject matter ranging from manufacturing trends, public policy and regulations in developed and emerging markets to global regulation and currency exchange rates. As well, he supervises content production of all IW editorial products including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and informationproducts, and executive conferences.

Before joining the IW staff, Steve was publisher and editorial director of Penton Media’s EHS Today, where he was instrumental in the development of the Champions of Safety and America’s Safest Companies recognition programs.

Steve received his B.A. in English from Oberlin College. He is married and has two children.