United States Mouldmaking business activity ends 2020 on a positive note

The Mouldmaking Index ended on a high note in December in the U.S. thanks to increased readings for both production and new orders.

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United States – The Moldmaking Index ended 2020 on a positive note thanks to a December reading thanks to increased readings for both production and new orders, Gardner Intelligence's Michael Guckes said. The economist says that the last time the Index was at or above this level was in early 2019. This elevated reading was, in part, a result of strong expansionary activity in new orders and production. Furthermore, a growing proportion of survey respondents reported expanding employment and backlog activity.

December’s results, however, showed no clemency to the ongoing challenges facing manufacturing supply chains. This may not be entirely unexpected, as logistics networks spent much of the last few months of 2020 handling an unprecedented amount of holiday e-commerce packages in addition to distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Adding to the pain of slowing supplier deliveries, a rapidly growing proportion of survey respondents are indicating that the prices they are paying for those input goods are increasing. Mouldmakers and moulders should remain vigilant in bolstering their supply chains in the new year wherever possible in order to be ready for any future supply chain disruptions and to help control input costs, Guckes said.

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