economics
Plastics Index Shows Supply Chain Improvement Despite Production Slowdown
Future expectations reach 2024 high on the heels of the recent election.
Mike Shirk
Senior Market Research Analyst, Gardner Intelligence
Plastics Processing Activity Contracted in July
Plastics processing GBI contracted for the third month in a row.
Read MoreProcessing Takes a Dip in June
Plastics activity took a relatively big downturn in June, ending at a low for the year and lower than the same month a year ago.
Read MoreProcessing Activity Dips in May
Plastics processing took a downturn in May, the first appreciable dip since November 2023.
Read MoreProcessing Activity Nears Expansion Level
Plastics processing kept pushing along in April, landing less than one point shy of expansion.
Read MoreNPE2024 and the Economy: What PLASTICS' Pineda Has to Say
PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda shares his thoughts on the economic conditions that will shape the industry.
Read MoreFor W&H, Big Themes are MDO, the Circular Economy, Retrofits
NPE2024: Machine builders responding to a need for flexible packaging processors are looking to make their operations more sustainable.
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Plastics Processing Index Remains Virtually Unchanged
Future business indicators rose again this month, but other inputs changed only slightly.
Heather Gaynor
Editor, Valve Magazine, Gardner Business Media
Processing Making Slow, Steady Progress
Plastics processing activity didn’t make its way into expansion territory in March, but seems headed in that direction.
Read MoreProcessing Megatrends Drive New Product Developments at NPE2024
It’s all about sustainability and the circular economy, and it will be on display in Orlando across all the major processes. But there will be plenty to see in automation, AI and machine learning as well.
Read MoreFebruary Index Dips a Tiny Bit
Index holds steady as optimism about future business conditions continues to increase among processors.
Read MoreTwin-Screw Showcased in Circular Economy Demo
NPE2024: A KraussMaffei twin will upcycle pelletized blood vials, which will then be overmolded on another press to produce bottle openers.
Read MorePlastics Processing Pattern Prevails With an Uptick in December
Like December 2022, the December 2023 index represents increased activity following dips in November.
Read MorePlastics Processing Activity Drops in November
The drop in plastics activity appears to be driven by a return to accelerated contraction for three closely connected components — new orders, production and backlog.
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Plastics Processing Contraction Slows Slightly
While the market is still sluggish, future business outlook rose significantly from last month.
Heather Gaynor
Editor, Valve Magazine, Gardner Business Media
Contraction in Processing Slows in October
The Gardner Business Index for plastics processing activity jumped a bit in October, though it still contracted as it has since July 2022.
Read MorePlastics Processing Activity Continues to Contract
September’s survey results mark a third month of a very similar GBI.
Read MorePlastics Processing Activity Held Steady in August
Monthly index indicates overall plastics processing activity stayed on its path of contraction.
Read MorePlastics Processing Business Index Contracts Further
All components dip as index hits low point of 2023.
Read MoreIndex Still Searching for Growth
But the good news is that June’s results were nearly a point above May’s.
Read MorePlastics Processing Contraction Continues
Contraction dominated the GBI index for overall plastics processing activity and almost all components, collectively suggesting a slowdown.
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Plastics Processing Activity Contraction Continues in August
Four months of consecutive contraction overall.
Heather Gaynor
Editor, Valve Magazine, Gardner Business Media
Plastics Processing Continued Contraction in April
Despite some index components accelerating and others leveling off, April spelled contraction for overall plastics processing activity.
Read MorePlastics Processing Contracted Again in March
Processing activity contracted for the ninth straight month, and at a faster rate.
Read MorePlastics Processing Activity Near Flat in February
The month proved to not be all dark, cold, and gloomy after all, at least when it comes to processing activity.
Read MoreProcessing Activity Contracts More Slowly in January
Despite contracting again in January, plastics processing activity rebounded a bit from a rather significant drop in December.
Read MorePlastics Processing Contraction Steadied in November
Though still contracting, November marks a break in what has been a steadily faster rate of contraction in plastics processing activity.
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