Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4c33Ql2

Manufacturing contracted in February again, coming in at 47.8 in the latest ISM measurement (below 50 is contraction, above 50 expansion). Manufacturing has contracted every month since November 2022.

Export orders picked up a bit but the other categories were all negative. However, 8 out of 18 sectors saw expansion this month where last month is was only four.

For what it is worth, the states with the highest population growth since 2019 (by %) are Idaho (+10%), Utah (+7%), Montana (+6%), Texas (+5%), and Florida (+5%). Right behind those leaders all tied at +4% is Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The only states to have negative population growth are California (-1%), West Virginia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Services remain below their pre-COVID share of total consumer spending.

Links mentioned in this episode: