IMTS Extends McCormick Place Partnership Through 2034, Reinforcing $500M Economic Impact on Chicago
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and McCormick Place announce extended agreement for 2032 and 2034 shows alongside $101,000 investment in Chicago Public Schools STEM education.
Strong US Economic Growth Driven by Investment in Machinery and Other Capital Goods
Real U.S. economic output increased at an annualized rate of 3.4% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The rate of economic growth in the third quarter exceeded the previous quarter, which grew 2.2% after revisions.
Fed Holds Rates Steady Amid Ongoing Rally in Manufacturing Technology Orders
In a widely expected move, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at a target range of 3.75% to 4.00%. While rates held steady, the two dissenting votes signal that the hawks may prevail over the next several meetings.
August 2026 US Cutting Tool Shipments Totaled $278.6M, Up 32.2% From August 2025
Shipments of cutting tools totaled $278.6 million in August 2026, a decrease of 0.8% from the $280.9 million reported in July 2026 but up 32.2% from August 2025. Year-to-date shipments totaled $2.03 billion, up 22.4% from the same period in 2025.
Capacity Utilization Among Machinery Manufacturers Continues Its Rise
Total U.S. industrial production increased in September 2026 to the highest level since December 2018. Capacity utilization is at its highest level since November 2018.
Rally in Machinery Orders Extends onto the Heels of IMTS 2026
New orders of metalworking machinery, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report, totaled $732.9 million in August 2026.
IMTS 2026 Accelerates Technology Adoption, Shapes Next Chapter of Manufacturing
U.S. manufacturing momentum, AI-driven solutions, advanced technologies, and strong conference participation expanded the IMTS manufacturing ecosystem.
Utilization Rates Dip Slightly as Recent Machine Orders Hit Shop Floors
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.
Fed Raises Rates in a ‘Firm, Unanimous Decision’
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.
July 2026 US Cutting Tool Shipments Totaled $278.1M, Up 29% From July 2025
Shipments of cutting tools totaled $278.1 million in July 2026. The value of shipments increased 2.8% from June 2026 and was up 29% from July 2025. Unit shipments in July remained steady from the previous month.