Today's #1 Weekly Manufacturing Podcast Began with ISM a Decade Ago

·31 min·3 clips

Manufacturing Talk Radio celebrates its 10-year anniversary with the ISM, claiming to be the world's leading manufacturing podcast.

The episode begins with host Tim Grady and Lou Wise welcoming Tim Fiore, committee chair for ISM's manufacturing report, to celebrate the show's 10-year anniversary with ISM. Grady notes that Manufacturing Talk Radio is the number one weekly manufacturing podcast globally. Fiore explains the historical significance of ISM's data, dating back to 1948, and its reliability as an early indicator. The September PMI came in at 49, beating expectations by a point and confirming the manufacturing sector is in a trough after a period of decline. Fiore breaks down the subindexes: new orders matched August levels at 49, production increased to 52.5, and employment showed a surprise shift with more hiring versus managing down. He attributes buyer activity to oil prices at $100 a barrel and dropping steel, copper, and aluminum prices, suggesting buyers are placing orders now to avoid future price increases. Backlog collapsed faster in September, which Fiore calls a timing issue, while supplier deliveries slowed due to seasonal factors. Inventory levels rose slightly, possibly due to building for year-end. Fiore discusses employment trends, noting layoffs have diminished since May, replaced by hiring freezes as companies see stable demand. He predicts the PMI will stay in the 48-52 range for the next few months, with potential to hit 50+ before year-end. The conversation touches on holiday hiring, with retailers like Amazon and Walmart showing lower numbers, and economic factors like student loans restarting, withdrawing $40-50 billion from the economy. Fiore emphasizes that uncertainty is the biggest enemy of business, but current interest rate clarity is better than not knowing. The episode wraps with thanks to listeners and a call to like and subscribe.

As heard by us

A 10-year ISM marker becomes a practical read on manufacturing headcount pressure.

Manufacturing Talk Radio uses a live anniversary episode to frame why the ISM report still carries weight, with Tim Grady, host Lou Wise, and Tim Fiore marking 10 years of ISM involvement.

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Why you'd press play

You want the manufacturing labor read, with Tim Fiore walking through the ISM report and headcount shifts.

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