Representative Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) political games on the Keystone XL pipeline project is only setting Americans back in their quest to find jobs — good paying jobs.  Continued attempts by the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce committee to cause a distraction by focusing on whether or not certain companies stand to benefit from this project is deplorable.  Americans stand to benefit.  More than 20,000 jobs will be created in manufacturing and construction, not to mention the 118,000 spin-off jobs that will also be created.  Manufacturers use one-third of our nation’s energy supply and the construction of the pipeline will provide a new source of affordable energy to manufacturers.

So let’s stop playing games. Politicians can no longer claim the need to create jobs for Americans while simultaneously using their position to stand in the way of common sense projects that would do exactly that.  America is prosperous because the private-sector fuels our economy and creates jobs — this Keystone XL pipeline project is no different.

Jay Timmons is president and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers.

Today Vice President Joe Biden was in Grand Rapids, MI talking about manufacturing and following up on the proposals laid out last week by President Obama in the State of the Union.

We are happy to see the President and Vice President are continuing to talk about manufacturing and realize how important it is to the economy and job creation. However, manufacturers need the right policies to grow and create jobs.

Manufacturers are looking for the “All-of-the-Above” energy policy that includes the Keystone XL pipeline. If they Administration wants to create manufacturing jobs, the perfect project was right before them. Keystone XL will create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs and more than 118,000 spin-off jobs.

As the discussion continues about manufacturing and how to create jobs we hope that both Congress and the Administration will move forward with policies to let manufacturers lead the economic recovery and create quality, high-paying jobs.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released it purchasing managers index (PMI) this morning, showing a modest uptick in the pace of overall manufacturing activity in January. Note that much of the data for 2011 were revised due to new seasonal adjustment factors. With that revision, the PMI rose from 53.1 in December to 54.1 in January. The index has been above 50 – its threshold for expansion in the sector – for 30 months, or since August 2009.

Looking at the various components the news is more mixed. While all of the key areas are over 50 except for inventories, a couple did reflect some easing in their pace of growth. On the positive side, the new orders variable grew stronger, up from 54.8 to 57.6. Supplier deliveries and new export orders also improved in the month.

However, production, employment and imports rose at a slower rate. Inventories continued to contract, but neared the neutral point.  The pace of price increases for raw materials also gained some steam after contracting in the previous three months.

Most of the sample comments provided by ISM echoed these sentiments. A machinery respondent, for instance, said, “Year starting a little slow, but customers are positive about increased business in 2012.” This sums up the bulk of the comments, with optimism for a stronger year.

Interestingly, one individual in the computer and electronics manufacturing sector added, “Business lost to offshore is coming back.” We continue to hear such anecdotal pieces of evidence about reshoring, and if nothing else, it provides another hint of American competitiveness in light of recent labor productivity gains. The Bureau of Economic Analysis is releasing new productivity data for the fourth quarter tomorrow.

Overall, the ISM data shows the manufacturing sector continues to recover. But, like other data released this week it is clear that growth has been modest at best. January appears to be growing less strongly than in November or December. While the new orders figures in this report bode well for future activity, it would be nice to see that translate into higher production and employment growth in the months ahead.

Chad Moutray is chief economist, National Association of Manufacturers.

Consumers were slightly less optimistic this month, according to the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index. The overall index fell from 64.8 in December to 61.1 in January. The leading driver of this decline was a diminishment in people’s perception of the current economic environment, with the index for present conditions down from 46.5 to 38.4. This is essentially where the index stood in November, essentially erasing the improvements observed in December. Nonetheless, individual assessments of future conditions remained about the same, down to 76.2 from 77.0.

This index rises and falls with pocketbook issues, and in this survey, Americans felt that jobs were harder to get. Also, fewer of them anticipated increases in their incomes. The result was a decrease in the percent planning to purchase a home, automobile or major appliance.

Lynn Franco, the Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, cites one other factor which might be providing a drag to these numbers. In the press release she says, “Recent increases in gasoline prices may have consumers feeling a little less confident this month.” Indeed, there is a long history of consumer confidence being shifted by the price that Americans pay at the gas pump.

For manufacturers, this is obviously not a positive way to enter the new year. We need the consumer to pick up their spending, helping to drive more demand for our goods. While over sentiment is much-improved from the lows seen in late summer and early fall, there is still much work to do to get the public less anxious about the economy.

Chad Moutray is chief economist, National Association of Manufacturers

The Chicago Business Barometer from ISM-Chicago declined from 62.2 in December to 60.2 in January. While this still represents strong growth, it also reflects a modest easing in manufacturing activity from the November and December readings.  

Production and new orders continue to be healthy, with a slightly lower value this month. Nonetheless, with values of 63.8 and 63.6, respectively, activity remains highly elevated. Capital equipment purchases and supplier deliveries picked up their pace.

Employment also eased a little, with its index declining from 59.2 to 54.7. Job growth is positive, but this represents the slowest pace of hiring since August. The only component of the index that contracted was the measure for order backlogs, which shrunk from 57.3 to 48.3 for the month.

The prices paid for raw materials decreased from 63.8 in December to 62.4 in January. This more-or-less continues some pricing relief seen since November. The larger trend has reflected a downward shift (but still elevated levels) in prices since mid-2011. The index in July, for instance, was 73.4.

Despite some easing in these numbers, manufacturing activity in the Chicago region remains strong, supported by healthy production and new orders overall. It would definitely be nice to regain the momentum seen in early 2011, though, when the Chicago Business Barometer was hovering around 70.

Chad Moutray is chief economist, National Association of Manufacturers.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) was pleased to learn yesterday that the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed with U.S. complaints and found China’s export restraints on several industrial raw materials used as key components in the steel, aluminum, and chemicals industries to be inconsistent with China’s WTO obligations. 

We applaud U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kirk and his team for bringing the case before the WTO as companies need these materials to compete at home and abroad. When China withholds from the market these key materials in contravention of its WTO obligations, it artificially increases world prices while effectively subsidizing Chinese producers, while hiding behind specious claims of environmental protection and conservation.

This beggar thy neighbor trade policy is what China must reverse and it is time it complies with the spirit as well as the letter of the international trading system rule book that has benefited from much since 2001. Other countries that have similar protectionist policies, like Argentina, should take note.

Stephen Jacobs is senior director of international business policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

President Obama meets with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili today. Later, he hosts a chat on Google +. Wednesday, he crosses the Potomac and delivers remarks on the economy in northern Virginia. On Thursday, he attends the National Prayer Breakfast.

The Senate convenes this afternoon and will hold a procedural vote on the congressional insider trading bill (S. 2038).

The House returns on Tuesday and will vote on a motion to go to a House-Senate conference on the Federal Aviation Authority reauthorization bill (H.R. 658). The House will also take steps toward repealing a program established by President Obama’s health-care law. Later in the week, the House will consider legislation that would reform the budget process.

See the Majority Leader’s calendar here.

Senate Hearings: TUESDAY—The Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the energy outlook for 2012. The Finance Committee looks at tax extenders and tax reform. The Banking Committee conducts an oversight hearing on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. WEDNESDAY—The Small Business Committee holds a hearing on entrepreneurship. The Budget Committee ponders the “Outlook for the Eurozone.” THURSDAY—The Energy and Natural Resources Committee examines “America’s Nuclear Future.” The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee considers college affordability. The Budget Committee holds a hearing on the “Budget and Economic Outlook: FY2012-2022.”

House Hearings: MONDAY—A Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee holds a field hearing on the Coast Guard’s readiness to respond to oil spills. WEDNESDAY—An Energy and Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on “America’s Nuclear Future.” The Oversight and Government Reform Committee looks at President Obama’s recent recess appointments. An Energy and Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. A Science, Space and Technology subcommittee looks at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research on fracking. The Education and Workforce Committee holds a hearing on “Expanding Opportunities for Job Creation.” A Financial Services subcommittee considers the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. The Budget Committee receives testimony from Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf on the budget and economic outlook. A Judiciary subcommittee holds a hearing on “Prior User Rights: Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing and Innovation.” The Small Business Committee considers “The Path to Job Creation: The State of American Small Businesses.” THURSDAY—An Education and Workforce subcommittee looks at challenges facing the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. The Budget Committee hears about the state of the economy from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. FRIDAY—A Science, Space and Technology subcommittee examines “Fostering Quality Science at EPA.”

Executive Branch: Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the Conference of Chief Justices today. On Wednesday, Commerce Secretary John Bryson will be in Pittsburgh, Pa., to deliver remarks on manufacturing. On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves for Germany and Bulgaria.

Economic Reports: From the New York Times: “Data will include personal income and spending for December (Monday); the S.& P./Case-Shiller home price index for November, the Chicago purchasing managers index for January, and consumer confidence for January (Tuesday); ADP employment for January, the I.S.M. manufacturing index for January and construction spending for December (Wednesday); weekly jobless claims and productivity for the fourth quarter (Thursday); and unemployment for January, the I.S.M. nonmanufacturing index for January and factory orders for December (Friday).”

The government reported that the U.S. economy grew by 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, with manufacturers playing an integral role. Consumers and businesses replenishing their inventories were the largest contributors of real GDP for the quarter. In many ways, this number was not a surprise: other indicators also suggested an uptick in manufacturing activity in the months of November and December. Manufacturers are cautiously optimistic about future production, and the rebound is welcome news.

Yet, the GDP numbers also bring to mind challenges that might dampen growth in the coming months. It is unlikely, for instance, that we will see the same lift from inventories in the first quarter, and consumers have dipped into their savings to increase their purchases. At some point, this level of spending might ease so that consumers might pay off some of these debts. In addition, it is clear that the government sector will be a drag on growth for the foreseeable future – of which we were reminded when the Department of Defense announced budget cuts last week. Most pressing, though, is the constant reminder of Europe’s ills and the challenges that slowing global growth might have on our exports. Fitch Ratings downgraded several European nations’ credit ratings on Friday, following the lead of Standard & Poor’s from a few weeks ago.

These worries aside, most of the recent domestic economic indicators have been positive. Durable goods orders, for example, rose 3 percent in December, with strength in nondefense capital goods. This mirrors much-improved production, employment and investment data from the Kansas City and Richmond Federal Reserve Banks (and for that matter, in most of the recent regional) surveys. The National Association of Business Economics (NABE), in its latest Industry Survey, observes these improvements, with more economists upgrading their assessments for growth this year. Sixty-five percent of respondents to the NABE survey expect for real GDP to grow at least by 2 percent in 2012. Similarly, the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s National Activity Index indicates that the risk of a recession seems to be lessening.

These growth estimates are in line with those from the Federal Reserve Board, which estimates real GDP growing between 2.2 and 2.7 percent this year. The Fed also expects the unemployment rate to remain elevated, improving slowly to a range of 8.2 to 8.5 percent in 2012 and to 6.7 to 7.6 percent by 2014. The Federal Open Market Committee, even as it cites improvements in the domestic economy, remains worried about high unemployment, a still-weak housing market and uncertainties related to European sovereign debt. It stated last week that it now plans to keep interest rates at “exceptionally low” levels through late 2014 – an extension from its earlier intentions of doing so through mid-2013. With these moves, the Fed hopes that lower long-term rates spur more borrowing, both by homeowners and businesses.

This week, we will receive more data about production and employment, which will hopefully show continued growth in manufacturing in January. The Institute for Supply Management’s well-cited index of manufacturing activity will come out on Wednesday, and it is expected to be somewhat higher. On Thursday, new productivity data will be released, with manufacturing output per worker expected to continue to show strong growth. Finally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will unveil new employment data on Friday, which should show increased hiring among manufacturers in conjunction with recently increased production.

Chad Moutray is chief economist, National Association of Manufacturers.

As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to move forward with its overreaching agenda the impact is beginning to be felt across the country. This week we’ve seen new reports in the news of jobs that will be lost as the result of facilities that will be forced to close because of new EPA regulations. These closing’s just don’t impact those who work at the plant, they impact the entire town.

A report from Williamsport, Maryland Herald-Mail yesterday tells the story of the impact the closing of the R. Paul Smith Power station will have on the entire community.

Williamsport resident Johnna Artz didn’t mince words Thursday about her opposition to the closing of the R. Paul Smith Power Station in town.

“This affects everybody,” she said. “It hurts the whole community with the number of jobs and revenue lost.” The plant, which went on line in 1927 and employs around 40 people, is being closed as a result of tougher emission regulations imposed by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Artz, 71, who has lived in Williamsport for 48 years, said that the plant closing will impact her family. She said the federal government could focus on other environmental issues instead of those that take away jobs.

And on the banks of Lake Erie FirstEnergy Corp facing the same regulations will be shuttering plants which will impact hundreds of employees and have a domino effect through the local communities. (continue reading…)

One of the big success stories in the trade world for 2011, other than passage of the FTAs, was success of the Export-Import Bank’s Global Access for Small Business program. Last year the Ex-Im Bank approved $6 billion in small business financing through this helpful new program which is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers.

It’s a little known fact that more than 85 percent of all the Bank’s transactions directly benefit small business exporters.

As you can see export financing is paramount to the ability of manufacturers to export and in turn grow jobs and invest. We have to remember that 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside of the U.S. and our manufacturers need the tools to reach them, if not we will be eclipsed by our overseas competition.

The NAM is urging Congress to act as soon as possible to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank and to increase the Bank’s lending capacity. If we are going to meet the goal of doubling exports by 2014 an improved Ex-Im Bank is going to play an important role and we can’t afford to wait to act until the temporary authorization expires.

Manufacturers are constantly planning for the future several months and years in advance which is why a multi-year extension is needed. 

Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg is also pushing for Congress to move quickly as CQ reported earlier this week.

In an interview, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg said Congress needs to quickly assure businesses and foreign customers that it will have more financing authority. Hochberg called legislation to raise the bank’s lending limit a “jobs bill.”

Reauthorizing Ex-Im means more exports which translates to more jobs for American workers. We are hopeful Congress can come together to move forward soon before we lose out to the competition.