[Bas]

US factory orders dropped by their largest amount in six-and-a-half years in January, official figures showed.
Orders for big-ticket items fell even faster, the data from the Commerce Department showed - down 8.7%, even wose than an earlier 7.8% estimate.

the US had slowed, while labour costs soared.

Both sets of data point to a slowdown in the world's largest economy, and could fuel inflation concerns.

The Commerce Department data showed that a main contributor to the manufacturing slowdown had been lower transportation orders, which fell 19%, and included a 60.2% drop in demand for commercial planes.

While durable goods fell 8.7%, order for non-durable goods - which include petrol and food - were down only 2% in January.

Profitability

The US Labor Department figures had shown that productivity per worker - a measure of hourly output - grew by 1.6% annually over the three-month period.

The decline in productivity growth contributed to a rise in unit labour costs of 6.6%, well above an original estimate of 1.7%.

A combination of slowing productivity gains and higher wages could fuel inflation if sustained.

The rise in labour costs was the most dramatic since the first three months of 2006, which had a 9.1% increase.

The economic data follows soon after the US released figures showing economic growth in the last three months of 2006 was 2.2%, well below the original estimate of 3.5%.

BBC News

[smiley]

I can't say it surprises me.

This week I had to turn down another US supplier. For a few years I have been ordering their products at regular intervals. However after a series of price raises they simply have become to expensive.

One particular item sold for $56 a pcs last year and now they are asking $94. I'm willing to accept a bit of a premium for the service they deliver, but this is getting ridiculous. So I turned to a British supplier which asks $68. Of course I could get it cheaper in India or China, but ordering there is very difficult and service is usually quite dodgy.

Perhaps the US participants of this site can fill me in on this. From here I get the impression that prices in the US are rising rapidly. Is that also something you see in the stores? Is inflation really that high?

That would mean that in order for the US manufacturers to become competitive again the dollar must be allowed to lower in value.

[Kingcoal]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')ne particular item sold for $56 a pcs last year and now they are asking $94.

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hat was the item, Smiley?

[Armageddon]

I am a small contractor in st. louis. This is my 20th year, and this is the slowest I have ever seen the season start. The winter was slow too. I have a few good jobs coming up, but nothing like usual.

[PenultimateManStanding]

The internet price of kratom leaf has just about doubled. My favorite dream-enhancing legal entheogen is now too expensive.

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') am a small contractor in st. louis. This is my 20th year, and this is the slowest I have ever seen the season start. The winter was slow too. I have a few good jobs coming up, but nothing like usual.

[Armageddon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smiley', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') am a small contractor in st. louis. This is my 20th year, and this is the slowest I have ever seen the season start. The winter was slow too. I have a few good jobs coming up, but nothing like usual.

[Eli]

Smiley that makes sense that the particular product you were ordering would have gone up so much.

Consumer prices are not that bad in general, but industries that use a lot of gas and electricity have seen the worst cost increases.

I am sure the company you were ordering from has seen a hefty increase in their power bill.

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')miley that makes sense that the particular product you were ordering would have gone up so much.

[fireplaceguy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '[')b]US factory orders dropped by their largest amount in six-and-a-half years in January, official figures showed.
Orders for big-ticket items fell even faster, the data from the Commerce Department showed - down 8.7%, even wose than an earlier 7.8% estimate.

the US had slowed, while labour costs soared.

Both sets of data point to a slowdown in the world's largest economy, and could fuel inflation concerns.

The Commerce Department data showed that a main contributor to the manufacturing slowdown had been lower transportation orders, which fell 19%, and included a 60.2% drop in demand for commercial planes.

While durable goods fell 8.7%, order for non-durable goods - which include petrol and food - were down only 2% in January.

[Daculling]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smiley', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')miley that makes sense that the particular product you were ordering would have gone up so much.

[Baldwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '
')the US had slowed, while labour costs soared.

[frankthetank]

You could probably add health insurance costs in there. I noticed, like clockwork, both hospitals in town raised there rates by 5% or so right after the new year. My own insurance went from a max out of pocket of a $3k to $5k... merry christmas asshole!

[I_Like_Plants]

I was talking to a rather large surplus test equipment dealer, he first surprised me by turning down a reasonable LCR meter I offered him (with delivery!) and then went on to say business is the worst it's been for him, EVER.

This guy's been in the biz for a LONG time too.

[Tyler_JC]

Gasoline is up 30 cents in the past month, if that counts for anything.

Food prices are definitely up, I've noticed that a few of my favorite restaurants have had to "update" their menus to reflect rising costs.

But thankfully, Our Supreme Leaders do not bother including "volatile" food and energy prices in the inflation calculations.

It looks like the fuzzy math is finally catching up to the money masters as the current crash in economy growth can no longer be hidden from the public.

The poor guy trying to sell his junky two bedroom ranch house two doors down from me has had to lower his asking price again. The thing has been on the market for a solid year and has done nothing but lose value and waste balloons.

Everyone I know has a sense that something is seriously wrong with this economy. Or maybe I don't get out much. We shall see.