Manufacturing News

In March 2003, during National Manufacturing Week, Secretary Evans announced the President’s Manufacturing Initiative in a speech before the National Association of Manufacturers in Chicago. Secretary Evans ordered a comprehensive review of the issues influencing long-term competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Council is comprised of 15 private-sector executives who reflect a balance of U.S. manufacturing industry sectors, geographic locations, and business size. The Council advises the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect U.S. manufacturing and provides a forum for proposing solutions to industry-related problems.

Shares of American International Group Inc. made the largest midday gain on the Dow Jones industrial average Thursday, as the stock continued to rally after AIG gave a strong growth forecast and said it can manage its exposure to the weakening U.S. housing market.

Retailers reported mixed November sales Thursday as shoppers watched their wallets amid the ongoing economic slowdown and a tightening credit market. But sales of personal computers, especially laptops, as well as Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people )'s iPod music players, are going strong, analysts say.

Just a few months ago, IDC was expecting the U.S. tech market to grow 5.5 percent in 2008. The company pushed its estimate down to 3 percent to 4 percent as the mortgage crisis heightened and rising oil prices enhanced the prospect of a recession next year, IDC senior researcher Frank Gens said.

Forrester Research Inc. (nasdaq: FORR - news - people ) is still finalizing its worldwide forecast, but research analyst Andrew Bartels expects the U.S. market to grow 4.6 percent, down from 5.4 percent this year. He said that presumes an economic slowdown in the United States that stops short of becoming a recession.