In July, the manufacturing sector grew at its fastest month-to-month rate in four years. A new tax law likely boosted company spending to some degree, but AI investment packed the biggest punch — demand is strong and the money is flowing. Also in this episode: McDonald’s suffers a sales slump, the latest JOLTS data points to a steadily improving labor market, and Kai talks to one economist behind a Trump administration investment tracker. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. Read the stories in today’s episode: Manufacturing sector benefits from continued AI demand Tracking down the Trump administration&#x27;s $27.6 billion in investments Why job openings have been rising slowly this year McDonald&#x27;s sales soften as diners spend cautiously Where did China&#x27;s oil imports go?

Manufacturing boomed in July. Thank all that AI money

Marketplace

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[SPEAKER_C] On the program today, we are going to do this economy big picture, and we are going to do it small. From American Public Media, this is Marketplace. In Los Angeles, I'm Kai Ryssdal. It is Tuesday. Today, for August. Good as always to have you along, everybody. We turn today for our understanding of the current state of this economy to American industry. The Institute for Supply Management tells us that last month the entire manufacturing slice of this economy grew at its fastest rate in four years. There's higher demand, there are growing backlogs, there's more production on factory floors, and more manufacturing employment as well. That is noteworthy in and of itself. All the more so, though, because manufacturers still have a whole lot of challenges: higher energy costs, higher interest rates, tariffs, and both business and consumer uncertainty staring them in the face. So Marketplace's Justin Ho gets us going with why American factories are so busy right now.

[SPEAKER_D] The manufacturing sector has been picking up in part because manufacturers are building out their capacity. Matthew Miskin with Manulife John Hancock Investments says last year's tax law helped many businesses upgrade.

Manufacturing boomed in July. Thank all that AI money

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Manufacturing boomed in July. Thank all that AI money

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.