ThomasNet Industrial Newsroom - Industrial Market Trends

Light Friday: The Greatest Scientific Innovation Ever?

dbutcher — 2009-11-06T12:11:03-05:00

Plus: Halloween Characters Bosses are Most Like, Ford's Solution to America's Car Woes and How Your Beer Preference Reflects Your Personality.

The Job Hunt, Pt. II: Action

dbutcher — 2009-11-05T11:32:19-05:00

In yesterday's The Job Hunt, Pt. I: Preparation, we discussed preparation tips and resources for people considering a new job. Here we conclude our two-part series by looking at strategy and actions for taking the next step in your career.

The Job Hunt, Pt. I: Preparation

dbutcher — 2009-11-04T12:19:20-05:00

15.1 million people in the U.S. are currently without work. For job-searchers, that's a lot of competition. We've rummaged through the IMT archives to provide not only a framework for the job-hunting process, but also a number of additional resources for tips. Part I in a two-part series

Employment Conditions Lag Behind Economic Recovery

ileybovich — 2009-11-03T12:39:13-05:00

Despite the U.S. economy exiting the recession, employment conditions remain difficult across a wide range of industries, raising doubts that the job market can achieve the same level of recovery occurring in other economic sectors.

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: House Unveils Health Care Bill

imtstaff — 2009-11-02T12:48:08-05:00

Plus: U.S. Economy Grows, New Durable Goods Orders Pick Up and Consumer Confidence Drops.

Light Friday: The Big Business of Halloween

ileybovich — 2009-10-30T13:43:15-05:00

Plus: Terrifying Robots, NASA's Tallest Rocket, the Most Annoying Words and a Nanotech Musical.

Cracking Down on Excessive Executive Pay

dbutcher — 2009-10-29T13:36:12-05:00

Last week, the U.S. Federal Reserve and Department of the Treasury separately moved to assert greater oversight over corporate compensation. The hunt for excessive executive pay continues...

Manufacturing Outlook Improves in Third Quarter

ileybovich — 2009-10-28T13:18:37-05:00

Optimism among manufacturers has been steadily rebounding, recently reaching its highest point in a year and a half, a new report shows. This represents a positive sign for industrial recovery.

Outlook: Raw Materials, Energy and Materials Handling

dbutcher — 2009-10-27T09:08:03-05:00

Effective management of raw materials costs is one of the top sourcing concerns for industrial manufacturers. According to a recent survey, inflation is also a major worry for small and midsized manufacturing firms, with 90 percent saying that they have seen or expect to see rising prices on raw materials in the second half of 2009. In addition, more than half indicated the same expectation for the costs of energy and components. The following broad outlook is broken down by energy costs, raw materials prices and materials-handling equipment investments.

The Future of the Steel Sector

ileybovich — 2009-10-27T09:07:17-05:00

After a challenging year of reduced output and sluggish demand, the steel industry is beginning to see positive signs. But will the expected boost in global demand provide sustainable, long-term growth for the steel sector?

Top 10 Moments in Materials History

ileybovich — 2009-10-27T09:06:26-05:00

The materials that have helped shape the modern world were introduced through momentous acts of invention and engineering. Here we look at the top 10 moments in materials history, based on a poll of engineers.

Actionable Ideas for Supply Chain Sourcing

dbutcher — 2009-10-27T09:05:04-05:00

Economic pressures are forcing companies to contain costs and boost revenue through their sourcing and procurement functions. A recent report proposes a number of "calls for action" as firms move forward with their supply chain efforts.

"Smart" Infrastructure on the Rise

ileybovich — 2009-10-27T09:04:09-05:00

The concept of implementing an interconnected and reactive system of utilities to build the nation's "smart" infrastructure is gaining momentum. Here we look at how the costs measure up against the benefits of this power-distribution alternative.

The Manager/Worker Disconnect

dbutcher — 2009-10-27T09:03:52-05:00

New findings indicate a widening gap between what employees want from their managers and what they're getting. Are some supervisors letting their standards slip, relying on the belief that their workers are hanging on to their jobs no matter what?

2009's Most Popular Car Colors

ileybovich — 2009-10-27T09:02:24-05:00

Car owners around the world made silver the most popular exterior vehicle color for the ninth consecutive year, a new report shows. How does your car color compare with the most common among automakers and consumers?