The Journal of Commerce is reporting that steel imports were up slightly month-to-month in November, but up 25% year-over-year. This tracks with manufacturing, reports of the death of which have been greatly exaggerated. But it’s not a good sign for the upcoming year. Even as economic activity has rebounded, manufacturing has levelled off below its pre-recession peak:
We’re making more stuff than ever before, we’re not not employing very many people doing it:
