IEWC Newsletters

Q2 2021 Hot Wire: Commodities

Commodities prices are rising across the board as US and global economies recover. Industrial capacity utilization is expected to pick up as we move further into 2021, increasing demand for raw materials used in the production of goods. The unprecedented scale of fiscal and monetary stimulus deployed over the course of the pandemic indicates that rising inflationary pressures will persist this year.

Q1 2021 Hot Wire: Manufacturing Outlook

Put succinctly, many leading indicators for the overall US economy and the industrial sector are saying that recovery and rise will characterize 2021. Both the global and domestic purchasing managers indexes (ISM and JP Morgan) are in rising trends, indicating opportunity to be had during at least the next 12 months.

CONNECTION: IEWC Acquires Jupiter Communications

IEWC is excited to announce our acquisition of Jupiter Communications, an industry leading telecommunications power and connectivity supplier, in a strategic move targeting dynamic growth in the North American telecom, central office and data center markets.

HOT WIRE: Auto Industry Outlook for 2021

The most recent three months of North America light vehicle production were 8.0% below last year. Production cratered earlier this year,grinding to a halt in April, which posted a contraction of 99.2% relative to April 2019.

HOT WIRE: COVID-19 Takes Commodity Prices on a Roller Coaster Ride

Leaving few stones unturned, COVID-19 has changed both the economy and our very way of life. Commodity prices are no exception. Why did commodity prices react as they did this year, and how can we use those clues to help us ascertain what the future holds?

HOT WIRE: "Black Swan Events" Making Winners & Losers in Manufacturing

Taken together, leading indicator movements and black swan events suggest annual US total manufacturing production will likely decline through at least the remainder of this year. Staving off the worst effects of industrial sector business cycle decline this year and into early next year will require tough decisions.

HOT WIRE: Special Topic - Inflation

The forecast for US Crude Oil Prices upward trend is due in part to recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. OPEC oil supply restrictions are also keeping Prices higher during this cycle than during the 2015/2016 oil prices crash of the previous cycle.

HOT WIRE: Commodity Price Outlook

During the past three months expectations for steel, natural gas, and oil prices have been adjusted. Despite recent upward movement in the trends for these commodities, prices between now and the first half of 2020 are unlikely to rise above levels seen in the first half of 2019.

CONNECTION: Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Solutions

IEWC has supported automotive manufacturers, sub-assemblers, and their subsequent supply chains with extensive wire and cable products for on- and off-road machines for more than 55 years.

HOT WIRE: Slowing Trade Dragging on US and Global Economies

When it comes to US trade, the general perception is that imports are all that matter. “The US doesn’t make anything anymore,” is a common refrain, or “We buy everything from China.” These common maxims are likely derived from the fact that the US runs a perpetual trade deficit.

HOT WIRE: The Impact of U.S. Tax Reform on Small Business

Tax reform was a notable economic development in 2018, with changes to the codes for both corporate taxes and individual income taxes receiving substantial coverage in the mainstream press. We now have evidence confirming that these tax code changes did have a positive impact on the economy.

CONNECTION: Cut-to-Length Heat Shrink Tubing Now Available from IEWC

In this tight labor market, every man-hour counts. Free up your workforce and get better quality cuts with cut-to-length tubing from IEWC!

HOT WIRE: EV/Hybrid Segment Thriving Despite Weakness in Automotive Industry

Although consumer spending increased in recent years, lifting activity in much of the retail sector, activity in the automotive industry has been relatively flat recently.

HOT WIRE: Trade Agreement & Tariff Talks Continue

The Trump administration is working to replace tariffs with new trade deals. As discussed in the November Hot Wire, the US came to terms with Mexico and Canada on an agreement: the USMCA.

HOT WIRE: What Markets do you Expect to Grow in 2019 as the Economy Loses Steam?

While the economists that IEWC consults with expect business-cycle decline through much of the industrial sector in 2019, certain markets will likely trend positively.

HOT WIRE: Inflation Expectations

US consumer prices in November were 2.2% higher than the November 2017 level and prices are expected to rise through 2019. However, the rate of inflation will slow through the majority of the year.