Manufacturing joins the economic slowdown

New data shows slump in manufacturing production, growth

By Plant Engineering Staff October 17, 2008

The global economic crisis had the predictable impact on manufacturing this month. USA Today reports that a trio of economic reports paint a bleaker picture of manufacturing output and growth. The Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI report puts manufacturing output at its lowest level since 2001. And with more plant closures — real and rumored — it’s been a tough month fror a sector that economists have been reasonably pleased with in the past.