November 2 – Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said U.S. factories continued to expand strongly in October, with manufacturing extending its best growth momentum since early 2022 and driving employment growth at the fastest pace in five and a half years—the highest level since the pandemic-era demand surge. But growth pressures are also evident: amid supply chain disruptions, factories are struggling to meet robust demand, especially for AI-related goods and equipment; hampered by shipping and logistics problems, delivery delays are more widespread than at any time since 2022. Because demand frequently outstrips supply, producers' ability to pass on rising costs has strengthened, especially for energy-related inputs. October manufacturer output price inflation therefore accelerated further, with the increase reaching the highest level since September 2022. Such a sharp rise is bound to pass through to consumers in the coming months, keeping inflation persistently above the Federal Reserve's target and increasing pressure on policymakers to continue raising interest rates.