Total U.S. industrial production was flat in August 2026, and the index for manufacturing decreased by 0.3 percentage points. Capacity utilization among manufacturers also decreased slightly.
For the first time in Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s tenure, the committee voted to raise interest rates by a quarter-point to a target range of 3.75% to 4.00% in a move that was all but certain after a flat CPI inflation reading last week.
Shipments of cutting tools totaled $270.5 million in June 2026. The value of shipments increased 12.8% from May 2026 and was up 31.7% from June 2025. Year-to-date shipments totaled $1.47 billion, up 19.3% from the same period in 2025.
With total attendance on pace to exceed 90,000, the manufacturing community at IMTS 2026 represents all 50 states and 113 countries.
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $605.8 million in July 2026, an 8% decrease from June 2026 and a 55.2% increase over July 2025. The total through the first seven months of 2026 was $4.03 billion, a 37.1% increase over the same period in 2025.
New manufacturing technologies aimed at increasing output and capacity debut as industry, defense and AI leaders gather in Chicago.
IMTS 2026 gives visitors access to AI experts who know how to apply AI to manufacturing workflows, can help identify opportunities for improvement, and offer new ways of working.
In his first address as head of the Federal Reserve, Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated the Fed’s commitment to bringing inflation back to the 2% target. He also highlighted business capital investment having its highest growth rate since 2021.
Projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of War in AMT’s Emerging Technology Center demonstrate how AI, additive manufacturing, automation, and digital technologies enable rapid deployment and adaptation to changing requirements.
Shipments of cutting tools totaled $270.5 million in June 2026. The value of shipments increased 12.8% from May 2026 and was up 31.7% from June 2025. Year-to-date shipments totaled $1.47 billion, up 19.3% from the same period in 2025.