In the NAM Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey Fourth Quarter 2017, 94.6% of respondents said they were optimistic about their own company’s prospects and a solid majority (58.7%) said the U.S. was headed in the right direction.    The past two years real growth has been less than HUUUUUGE.  So will the positive feelings translate in to […]

  A major glitch out of Columbus could have some area businesses owners concerned. The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation sent over 40,000 inaccurate tax documents to Ohio businesses. A spokesman for the BWC says 44,000 incorrect 1099s went out to employers all over the state. They went to employers who received a rebate on […]

Volvo Goup USA takes a hit for EEOC violations  / discrimination based on reaction to admittance of substance abuse issues / addiction with a candidate offered a job – and then declined.  Remember – Drug addicts are a protected class – Just not for current illegal or dangerous use of a drug. http://www.industryweek.com/talent/eeoc-settles-one-manufacturer-sues-another-discrimination?NL=IW-11&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_6&utm_rid=CPG03000001473607&utm_campaign=24639&utm_medium=email&elq2=9009d421beb24495a75b0f82d432094c

Honda keeps winning major car awards with a different approach that it plans to maintain – keeping humans at the center of the manufacturing process to get the highest quality. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2018/01/23/honda-humans-build-best-cars/109741724/

“The number one concern across every industry is the ability to find qualified labor. The shortage is pervasive and extends to all positions.” So – Is your company planning for the tightening market for employees and resulting pressure on wages to attract AND retain talent? http://www.industryweek.com/talent/talent-key-driver-manufacturing-site-selection?NL=IW-11&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&utm_rid=CPG03000001473607&utm_campaign=24500&utm_medium=email&elq2=43e6e39d027d418d9afd7d756ac69299

2017 closed with US home sales showing a December dip in volume, but the overall year seeing the highest number of closed sales since the pre-recession boom year of 2006.   Average sale price also jumped dramatically by 5.8%, as economic growth continues to pick up pace across all US regions. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-existing-home-sales-fell-in-december-1516806728

The Cadillac tax isn’t dead but it will stay suspended a while longer.  On Jan. 22, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law a two-year delay on the Affordable Care Act’s 40 percent excise tax on high-value health care plans.  Both political parties supported the provision to postpone the so-called Cadillac tax from taking effect […]

2017 saw US auto sales hit 17 million plus for the third year in a row – something never before achieved. http://globalautoindustry.dot.world/item/870  

Don’t expect manufacturers to slow down any time soon; there’s plenty of reason for solid growth ahead. “Industry Week” expects low inventory levels and booming optimism and other factors to make 2018 even better than 2017. http://www.newequipment.com/industry-trends/us-manufacturing-primed-another-growth-year?NL=NED-09&Issue=NED-09_20180122_NED-09_624&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_3_b&utm_rid=CPG03000001473607&utm_campaign=24466&utm_medium=email&elq2=8a0b9f408681494cbb897ed5d9c6660e

SmartAsset looked at data on employment, home affordability and lifestyle to find the cities with the best work-life balance.  Columbus rocked it! https://smartasset.com/mortgage/cities-with-the-best-work-life-balance