US ISM manufacturing activity shrinks for the first time this year

BlockBeats News: On April 1st, ISM manufacturing activity in the United States shrank for the first time this year in March, with prices rising sharply for the second consecutive month as the drumbeat of tariff increases echoed throughout the economy. The survey shows that manufacturers' emotions have been affected by the Trump administration's unbalanced tariff measures. Due to the uncertainty of the implementation details of additional tariffs, some companies have suspended their investment plans. At the same time, companies were eager to import before the interest rate hike, driving the ISM factory inventory index to 53.4, the highest level since October 2022, helping to support the overall indicator. The efforts to obtain goods and materials from abroad have also driven up material prices. With the cooling of consumer demand since the beginning of this year, manufacturers may find it difficult to pass on the rising costs to consumers. (Golden Ten)