Market Data
U.S. Wholesale Prices Rise 0.5 Percent In May
June 17, 2013 9:47 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April. That nearly offset a 0.7 percent decline in April from March. Gas prices rose 1.5 percent last month, and food costs increased 0.6 percent.
Stock Building Supply Files For IPO
June 17, 2013 9:46 am | by Stock Building Supply | News | CommentsStock Building Supply Holdings, Inc. announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.
Oil Rises Past $98 Ahead Of Fed Meeting
June 17, 2013 9:44 am | by Pablo Gorondi, Associated Press | News | CommentsOver the past few days, traders have grown increasingly worried over the intensifying civil war in Syria. At least 93,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since it erupted in March 2011, according to a recent U.N. estimate. President Bashar Assad's forces are pressing ahead with an offensive to regain territory they lost to the rebels trying to topple his regime.
PwC: Average Global Effective Tax Rate On The Rise
June 17, 2013 9:26 am | by PwC | Articles | CommentsAccording to PwC’s study, the increase in average three-year ETR is due in part to an improved business climate and a decrease in companies reporting losses. In 2009, one in four companies in the study was in a loss making position; by 2012, the ratio was much smaller at one in 10.
Grainger May Sales Increase 5% Year Over Year
June 11, 2013 9:12 am | by W.W. Grainger, Inc. | News | CommentsDaily sales increased 5 percent versus May 2012, and included 3 percentage points from volume, 2 percentage points from price and 1 percentage point from acquisitions, partially offset by a 1 percentage point decline from unfavorable foreign exchange.
HD Supply Sales Rise 12.6%
June 6, 2013 10:02 am | by HD Supply | News | CommentsHD Supply experienced net sales and Adjusted EBITDA growth in all four of the company’s largest businesses: Facilities Maintenance, Waterworks, Power Solutions, and White Cap. HD Supply, Inc. reported net sales for the fiscal 2013 first quarter ended May 5, 2013 of $2.1 billion, an increase of $232 million, or 12.6 percent, as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2012.
How to Stand Out and Grow With Value Marketing Part 2
June 6, 2013 9:27 am | by Curtis Alexander, Author and Business Growth Strategist | Blogs | CommentsIn part one of this series, Curtis Alexander discussed how distributors need to be breaking out of just selling and into value marketing. In the second part of this series, he discusses how to create a plan and put it into action in twelve different steps.
Fastenal May Sales Rise 5.3% Year Over Year
June 5, 2013 9:58 am | by Fastenal | News | CommentsNet sales in May of 2013 were $289,440 (Dollar amounts in thousands), up from 274,836 in the same month of 2012. The daily sales were $13,156, up 5.3% from 12,493 in 2012. Fastenal has opened 16 stores in 2013. The company now has 2,665 in operation.
Falling Commodity Prices Give Buyers Using Cost Analysis The Upper Hand
June 4, 2013 9:30 am | by IHS | Articles | CommentsThe headlines often trumpet news about declining commodity prices. So why don’t these reductions ever seem to result in price reductions from suppliers? Suppliers will never volunteer to lower their prices, of course. Because of that, the only way for purchasers to parlay falling raw-materials expenses into real cost savings is to arm themselves with critical knowledge that can give them an edge in price negotiations.
RBC Bearings Sales Fall 7.5% In Fourth Quarter
May 29, 2013 9:33 am | by RBC Bearings | News | CommentsNet sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 were $103.0 million, a decrease of 7.5% from $111.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The decrease in net sales was attributable to an 18.9% decline in industrial sales driven by slowing OEM activity in mining, semiconductor and military vehicles, partially offset by a 4.9% increase in aerospace.
Rising Home & Stock Prices Boost U.S. Confidence
May 29, 2013 9:27 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber & Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writers | News | CommentsConsumer confidence jumped in May to 76.2, the Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday. That was up from a reading of 69 in April and is the highest level of confidence since February 2008, two months after the Great Recession officially began.
Sonepar Sales Climb 10% In 2012
May 28, 2013 2:19 pm | by Sonepar | News | CommentsDespite a troubled global economic environment, Sonepar increased its sales to €16.3 billion in 2012—10% higher than in 2011. The group has strengthened its position as a premier global distributor of electrical products and related services.
Chinese Exports Climb In 1Q, U.S. Numbers Fall Flat
May 28, 2013 9:54 am | by MAPI | News | CommentsFor calendar year 2013, Chinese manufactured exports are on track to nearly double U.S. exports, with a surplus of more than $900 billion, compared with a U.S. deficit of $500 billion, as the trade gap between these global powers continues to expand, according to a report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).
U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise 3.3% In April
May 28, 2013 9:36 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsOrders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, rose 3.3 percent last month from March, the Commerce Department said Friday. That followed a 5.9 decline in March. A measure of business investment plans increased 1.2 percent. And the government revised the March figure to show a 0.9 percent gain, instead of a slight decrease.
Columbus McKinnon Sales Down, Operating Margin Increases
May 24, 2013 10:02 am | by Columbus McKinnon Corporation | News | CommentsNet sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 were $144.6 million, down $15.0 million, or 9.4%, from the prior-year period. U.S. sales, which comprised 59% of total sales, were down by $5.3 million, or 5.8%, to $85.3 million compared with $90.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.
U.S. New Home Sales Up 2.3%, Highest Prices On Record
May 23, 2013 10:17 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsBoth January and April had the fastest sales rates since July 2008. The median price of a home sold in April was $271,600, the highest level on government records going back to 1993. The April price was 8.3 percent higher than in March and 13.1 percent higher than a year ago.
Global Manufacturers Lack Supply Chain Visibility Beyond Tier 1 Suppliers
May 22, 2013 4:30 pm | by KPMG, LLP | Articles | CommentsOnly nine percent of the 335 global respondents of the 2013 KPMG 2013 survey say they have complete visibility of their supply chains. That number is even lower among U.S. executives, with only seven percent claiming complete visibility.
National Oilwell Varco Doubles Dividend
May 22, 2013 9:47 am | by National Oilwell Varco, Inc. | News | CommentsPete Miller, Chairman and CEO of National Oilwell Varco, remarked, "This dividend increase reflects the Company's strong financial condition and our confidence in our business going forward. We are pleased that our continued execution and strong cash flow enable us to provide a significantly higher dividend directly to our stockholders."
Rexnord Fiscal Year Sales Increase 3%
May 22, 2013 9:37 am | by Rexnord | News | CommentsNet sales were $2.005 billion for fiscal year 2013, an increase of 3% from the prior year (+4% acquisitions/divestitures, -1% impact of foreign currency translation, flat core sales). Income from operations increased 4% year-over-year to $255 million or 12.7% of sales.
Brady Corp. To Sell Asia Die-Cut Business, Organic Sales Down 4.7%
May 17, 2013 11:03 am | by Brady Corporation | News | CommentsThe company continued its portfolio realignment process by announcing plans to sell its Asia-based Die-Cut business which was outlined in a separate press release on May 16, 2013. Accordingly, the company has recast its financial statements to report the financial results of the Die-Cut business on one line item in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
United Stationers Board Declares Regular Dividend
May 17, 2013 10:58 am | by United Stationers, Inc. | News | CommentsThe board also approved and authorized the company to purchase an additional $100 million of its common stock. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
China Industrial Steel Revenues Up 6% In 1Q
May 16, 2013 10:50 am | by China Industrial Steel, Inc. | News | CommentsThe increase in sales was mainly due to the increase in sales of steel plates and steel wires, offset by the decrease in sales of steel billets and the decrease in unit sales price in the three months ended March 31, 2013. The average unit sales price was $501 per ton, a decrease of $70, or 12%, compared to $571 per ton in the comparable period of 2012.
Signature Group Holdings Sees 1Q Net Loss Of $2.8 Million
May 16, 2013 10:36 am | by Signature Group Holdings, Inc. | News | CommentsThe company’s net loss for the first quarter of 2013 was $2.8 million, or $0.02 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.01 per share, reported for the first quarter of 2012. Comparatively, the 2013 quarterly results include a $1.5 million (or $0.01 per share) non-cash charge related to the company’s common stock warrant liability.
Power Transmission/Motion Control Industry Forecasts Growth
May 16, 2013 10:32 am | by PTDA | News | CommentsThe 1Q13 PTDA Business Index produced a reading of 61.1, which represents a substantial increase over last quarter’s reading of 50.7. This indicates that the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry expanded for the 12th consecutive quarter at a slightly faster pace compared with 4Q12.
Edgen Group Reports First Quarter 2013 Results
May 14, 2013 9:16 am | by Business Wire | News | CommentsEdgen Group Inc. a leading global distributor of specialized products including steel pipe, valves, plate, and related components to the energy sector and industrial infrastructure markets, today reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
