US manufacturing shrinks for eighth month, stuck in near-recession. Factories contracted again. ISM index at 48.7, new orders falling. Demand weak, deliveries slow, prices easing slightly. Textiles, machinery, and chemicals struggle. Metals and transport equipment grow modestly. Businesses delay expansion, hiring freezes rise. Trade uncertainty and tariffs bite. Jobs, supply chains, and local economies feel the squeeze. Weak demand and structural issues keep factories in the red. Margins tight. Recovery uncertain. Every month adds pressure on the US manufacturing sector and broader economy.
