NEWS First Quarter GDP hits 2% The U.S. economy grew by 2% over the first quarter of 2026, a significant rebound from the fourth quarter of 2025. Much of the fourth-quarter economic slowdown was tied to the record-long government shutdown, and economists

David Harry Swanson passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Hampshire, Illinois, surrounded by his favorite pictures and songs, in peace and love. He was 91½ years old. Mr. Swanson (Swanbro Corp) was featured at TMA’s 48th Annual

NEWS Rising Industrial Activity Supports Higher Cutting Tool Demand Domestic demand for cutting tools rose 2% in February from January, which is 12.8% higher than February 2025. YTD shipments are up 11.3% compared to the same period in 2025. According

By Ben Barnett, President of Principal Manufacturing – Illinois manufacturers face a serious problem. We have modern, high-tech facilities running at full capacity, but we struggle to find the young talent needed to keep our shop floors moving in years