The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of national factory activity surged to a reading of 60.8 last month, the highest reading since May 2004, from 58.8 in August.
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In August, spending on private residential projects increased 0.4 percent, rising for a fourth straight month. Spending on nonresidential structures [e.g oil and gas wells, state and local government] increased 0.5 percent, snapping two straight monthly declines.*
Spemding on Federal construction projects continued to decline.
As for small business retail:
So what's the answer for small businesses trying to survive in the Age of Amazon? Focus on coexisting with the online retail giant instead of competing. After all, with 92 percent of retail sales still happening in brick-and-mortar stores, these small and local retailers have a huge opportunity to maintain and grow their business by keeping shoppers buying local.**
The CNN report on small business says that 45% pof small businesses don't have a web site.**
According to a survey done by BrightLocal, "74 percent of consumers say that positive reviews make them trust a local business more."** "If you can't beat them, join them?" If your products are the types of things that are sellable in Amazon's environment (i.e. consumer products, more modes price points, easy to understand and merchandise digitally), joining the Amazon marketplace can be extremely helpful for growing your business and getting your feet wet in e-commerce. If you are going to sell ... through a third party like Amazon, adopt shipping and return procedures and plan for the changes among staff and business process that go along with it. Is your business prepared to take on these initiatives? If so, this is something to think about as you look to attract more digital shoppers.**
Still:
Eighteen percent of U.S. retail ratings are in the CCC range, as the industry continues to grapple with increased competition, changing shopping patterns and steep discounts to attract shoppers. A CCC rating indicates that an obligation is vulnerable to nonpayment and that the ability to pay the obligation could hinge on whether business conditions are favorable. ***
Examples of bankruptcy filings are: Toys-Are-Us, Radio Shack, The Limited, Payless ShoeSource, and Vitamin World****
* https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/02/september-ism-manufacturing-index-august-construction-spending.html
** https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/02/how-main-street-usa-can-survive-amazon-age.html
*** https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/02/stressed-retail-industry-plunging-deeper-into-junk-territory-sp-says.html
**** https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/23/here-are-the-retailers-that-filed-for-bankruptcy-protection-in-2017.html
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