This past November, US manufacturing exceeded expectations – production and new orders went up, with the purchasing manager’s index (PMI) shooting to 53.2, up from 51.9 in October, demolishing the target of 52.2.
It’s fitting that this surprise happened in the same month as the US presidential election, during which the topics of manufacturing and world trade dominated voter issues. And in fact, important narratives throughout Europe and Asia have also focused on the re-evaluation of outsourcing and globalization.
