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Manufacturing insights, guides, and deep dives.

Practical guides, tutorials, and deep dives on manufacturing processes, cost estimation, production optimization, and shop-floor problem solving.

Latest guides and articles

  • Manufacturing Pulse Index: Aug 2026 Reading Is 39. The official Aug 2026 release of the U.S. Manufacturing Pulse Index: a reading of 39, with pillar scores and the trailing range.
  • Industrial Power Jumps to 9.17¢/kWh. Industrial Power jumps 5.3% in June 2026 to 9.17¢/kWh and up 3.0% from a year earlier. A 40 kW machining center on two shifts burns 160,000 kWh a year — $14,672 at this price, $427 more than a year ago.
  • Commercial Power Jumps to 14.19¢/kWh. Commercial Power jumps 4.8% in June 2026 to 14.19¢/kWh and up 4.8% from a year earlier.
  • Manufacturing in Hawaii Runs 113% Above the National Cost Average. Hawaii's manufacturing cost index stands at 213.3 against a national 100 as of June 2026 — labor at 126.7 and industrial energy at 473.0. That places it 51th cheapest of 51 jurisdictions.
  • Manufacturing in Rhode Island Runs 39% Above the National Cost Average. Rhode Island's manufacturing cost index stands at 139.1 against a national 100 as of June 2026 — labor at 102.2 and industrial energy at 249.8. That places it 49th cheapest of 51 jurisdict
  • Diesel Stands at $5.652 a gallon, the Highest in the 2-Year Archive. Diesel stands at $5.652 a gallon on August 24, 2026 — the highest reading in the 2-year archive, which reaches back to September 25, 2023. A 500-mile truckload burns about 77 gallons — $434.7
  • The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Falls to 293.4 million barrels. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve falls 1.8% on August 14, 2026 to 293.4 million barrels.
  • Aluminum Mill Prices Fall to 407.6. Aluminum Mill Prices fall 1.6% in July 2026 to 407.6 and up 30.2% from a year earlier. On a $250,000 annual buy, a 30.2% year-over-year move is $57,988 added to the same basket of parts.
  • Manufacturing in Alaska Runs 86% Above the National Cost Average. Alaska's manufacturing cost index stands at 186.3 against a national 100 as of May 2026 — labor at 128.4 and industrial energy at 360.0. That places it 50th cheapest of 51 jurisdictions.
  • Copper and Brass Mill Prices Fall to 542.9. Copper and Brass Mill Prices fall 2.6% in July 2026 to 542.9 and up 52.8% from a year earlier. On a $250,000 annual buy, a 52.8% year-over-year move is $86,387 added to the same basket of parts.
  • Iron and Steel Prices Climb to 374.1. Iron and Steel Prices climb 2.1% in July 2026 to 374.1 and up 17.6% from a year earlier. On a $250,000 annual buy, a 17.6% year-over-year move is $37,415 added to the same basket of parts.
  • Lamps and LED Lighting Is the Third-Most Concentrated Supply Line on the Board, and China Holds It. Lamps and LED Lighting scores 60 on supply-chain fragility against a 37 average across 57 tracked families, driven by 100 on supplier concentration and 25 on ta
  • Batteries and Storage Cells Is the Fourth-Most Concentrated Supply Line on the Board, and China Holds It. Batteries and Storage Cells scores 58 on supply-chain fragility against a 37 average across 57 tracked families, driven by 100 on supplier concentration a
  • Truck Tonnage Falls to 114.3. Truck Tonnage falls 2.9% in May 2026 to 114.3 and up 0.8% from a year earlier.
  • Industrial Chemical Prices Fall to 334.2. Industrial Chemical Prices fall 2.8% in July 2026 to 334.2 and up 11.8% from a year earlier. On a $250,000 annual buy, an 11.8% year-over-year move is $26,386 added to the same basket of parts.
  • Steel Fasteners Is the Most Concentrated Supply Line on the Board, and Taiwan Holds It. Steel Fasteners scores 60 on supply-chain fragility against a 37 average across 57 tracked families, driven by 62 on supplier concentration and 100 on tariff exposure.
  • Insulated Wire and Cable Is the Second-Most Concentrated Supply Line on the Board, and Mexico Holds It. Insulated Wire and Cable scores 60 on supply-chain fragility against a 37 average across 57 tracked families, driven by 100 on supplier concentration and 23
  • Propane Jumps to $0.723 a gallon. Propane jumps 3.6% on August 18, 2026 to $0.723 a gallon.
  • Steel Mill Prices Jump to 374.2. Steel Mill Prices jump 3.5% in July 2026 to 374.2 and up 22.5% from a year earlier. On a $250,000 annual buy, a 22.5% year-over-year move is $45,918 added to the same basket of parts.
  • Plastics Imports Jump to $6.4 billion in June 2026. U.S. plastics imports totalled $6.4 billion in June 2026, up 4.4% on the month and up 14.9% on the year. The most recent full-year unit-price data (2025 over 2024) says price has been doing real work in this

Last reviewed 2026-08-28.