Overview
- Bureau of Labor Statistics data show manufacturing employment fell for eight consecutive months through December, leaving the sector down roughly 68,000–72,000 jobs since April.
- ISM’s Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 47.9 in December, the tenth straight month of contraction, with survey responses pointing to higher input costs and trade-policy uncertainty tied to tariffs.
- The White House highlights gains in 2025 productivity, output and average hourly pay, along with near‑record capital goods orders, to argue the sector is strengthening.
- Tariffs have generated about $30 billion per month in revenue as many manufacturers report paying new duties on imported inputs and postponing projects due to frequent rule changes.
- Industry groups and executives warn that a forthcoming Supreme Court decision could swiftly alter costs and planning, with recent idled lines and layoffs underscoring the pressure on factories.