WASHINGTON—U.S. sales of machine tools totaled $444.06 million in February. That’s a 9 percent increase from January and a 35 percent increase compared with February 2011 sales.
WASHINGTON—U.S. corporations were sitting on $1.24 trillion of cash at the end of 2011. However, recent data indicate firms are finally starting to spend that cash on things that will actually grow the economy.
CHICAGO—Fifty-nine percent of manufacturers expect moderate to high growth from their key customers in 2012, and nearly 95 percent plan to invest in new manufacturing equipment this year, according to a new survey of CFOs at U.S. manufacturing companies.
BRUSSELS—New factory orders rose in the European Union in December, compared to November. New orders rose 1.9 percent month-to-month in the 17-member eurozone and 1.3 percent in the 27-member European Union.
PHILADELPHIA—Manufacturing in the Philadelphia region expanded at faster pace in January as employment picked up and factories grew more optimistic about business in the next six months.