So our first question is a pretty simple one. Do you know what a reverse phone number lookup is? In short, it’s when a person goes online to search a phone number in an act to learn more about a certain phone number (and its owner) that originally called them. This is especially helpful for people receiving spam calls, or feel somewhat threatened by an unknown source.

Believe it or not, there are companies that offer their services, which include searching their extensive databases and public records for any information they can find pertaining to the number that was reverse searched. It can actually be done pretty quickly, too! Just keep in mind your report results might vary by the source since they’re basing their findings off of different sets of information.

There are a number of services that will help you learn more about that mysterious phone number, but we’ll just use Kiwi Searches, which offers a free and more detailed paid service. Read on to understand just how much you can learn from conducting one of these reverse phone number lookups.

First, we’ll break down the differences between a free and paid phone number lookup.

Free phone number searches likely have things like:

• Their cell phone carrier
• The type of line (mobile or landline)
• Their general location (city/state)
• The first letter of the owner’s name

Paid phone number searches will also have these kinds of details:

• The full name of the phone owner.
• Their phone’s current location.
• The owner’s address/history.
• Family members of the owner.
• Pictures of said phone owner.
• The phone number’s spam score.

Obviously, your specific needs will dictate whether you decide to pay or not. If you’re specifically interested in the person calling (the phone owner), you can try conducting a background search to learn more about their arrest records/education/finances, etc. Traditionally, paid searches are normally reserved for more “serious” situations.

Once you get the information – what’s next, you may ask. Here are the next steps you can take:

Do Nothing At All

If you were just curious (maybe even slightly concerned), you can just do nothing. Sometimes just knowing is enough, after all, you’re in no way obligated to act on your newly acquired information!

Contact The Number

With proper context, you can take what you know and contact (call or text) the number. It could be someone you know like a friend, a spam caller, or just a stubborn person who has the wrong number.

Block Or Report The Caller

If the caller simply doesn’t stop, for whatever reason, or if you feel threatened in any way, you can always block them. This can be achieved through the settings on your cell phone. If you’d like to take it to the next step and report them, you can contact your local authorities and inform them of everything going on. Just be prepared to follow through if its a formal complaint.

That’s what you need to know. Everything you can (and can’t) get from doing a reverse phone number lookup. We only suggest that you use this information responsibly!

The post All The Possibilities Of a Reverse Cell Phone Lookup appeared first on Newton Search.

Directing our thoughts and interests to our own lives, is a relatively new trend. However, a couple generations back we had to depend on our neighbors for assistance. Neighbors and neighborhoods were built by folks from a similar background, immigrants who banded together to come to the New World and pursue the American Dream. Our children played together, grew up together, sometimes married each other, and families congregated together, if not in the same building, then often on the same street. In short, everyone knew everyone else and many were actually related to everyone else!

Time and circumstances have changed. One hundred years ago folks pretty much lived their entire lives in one place. Today the average person lives at five different addresses in their lifetime, and for many of us, leaving home after high school or college is a rite of passage. Air travel and employment can take the adventurous to foreign locales. Even for those of us who live in the same house for decades, we cannot name more than four or five families on our block, if that. With this new paradigm of seclusion and privacy comes the jarring possibility that we do not know our neighbors. This can prove detrimental, as you’ll soon see.

See Something? What to Do Before You Say Something

How many of us have turned on the news and seen stories about criminal activities in a residential neighborhood? Usually these broadcasts include interviews with neighbors who profess to have no knowledge of the sinister activities going on virtually under their noses. In fact, most declare that the neighbors in question kept to themselves, or were very polite, or betrayed none of what anyone would expect someone capable of a capital offense to resemble. Still others observed and wondered about the goings on next door, but were afraid to come forward and contact the authorities because they feared reprisal. If you are remotely curious about your neighbors, or want to know if there is something they might be hiding, first try Googling their name. If nothing of interest comes up, dig deeper. Visit kiwisearches.com. This site provides more in-depth information about an individual including previous addresses, family members, their phone number, possible criminal history, information about their finances, the properties they own, and more.

On a more minor note, keeping to one’s self or being the different family in an established neighborhood also draws its share of unwanted, and unwarranted interest. On my block, our neighbor Skip provides landscaping and snowplowing services with his son-in-law, Daniel, who, you guessed it, lives directly across the street from him. Skip lives in the house he grew up in and knows just about everyone in town- it is that kind of place. It is Skip who acts as the neighborhood goodwill ambassador sharing information about neighbors at one address with those at another, sometimes with surprising results. More than once I’ve responded to a knock at my door and found neighbors looking to hire an attorney, which I am not. Or found a young couple inspecting my front steps and asking if I would consider selling my house. Another time a family came and serenaded me from outside because Skip said I’d been in the hospital and could use some good cheer.
How to Build Goodwill in Your Neighborhood

He doesn’t always get his facts straight, but keeping everyone’s welfare and wellbeing in mind, well, that’s Skip and that’s what a good neighbor does. If you do not know your neighbors and do not have the good fortune to have a local Skip, try to get to know them. Bring over a potluck …leave a generic gift on their porch. Buy Girl Scout Cookies or gift wrap from their children, even if you’ve already bought yours at the office. Once you know a few families on your block, consider throwing a block party, or a neighborhood swap meet, or even a multi-address yard sale. Go caroling together- don’t laugh, we do! Make a big display at Halloween and give out quality candy/candy alternatives. Don’t forget the Winter holidays! A few dollars worth of lights and a little ingenuity, yours can be the showplace of the neighborhood!

So if you live on a street where you do not know your neighbors there are several options. 1) Do nothing and enjoy life as it is. 2) Snoop a little and look them up on Kiwisearch.com. Then, if all seems well, get to know at least the people whose property flanks yours (I found my plumber that way!). Even if it doesn’t go past the introduction stage, you’ll know you did the right thing, and, who knows, maybe you’ll make a new ally!

The post Won’t You Be My Neighbor? What do you really know about the people next door? appeared first on Newton Search.

There are a number of ways you can search for people’s phone numbers and it’s not surprising that Google is a big one. This is especially the case considering that Google is the world’s dominant search engine and is the main source that people use for accessing new information.

Fortunately for many, it’s become easy to perform a reverse phone lookup on Google (for free). Phonebook Search Operator was literally created for people that had interest in looking up specific phone numbers, giving users the freedom they feel they deserve. However, before we go too deep into Phonebook Search Operator, we should probably go into how you can do a Google phone number lookup today.

What’s The Update on Google’s Recent Service?

As easy as the Phonebook Search Operator is for so many people, it also had its share of problems for both the people using the service and Google’s very own employees. This was an on-going event that may have felt even longer than it actually was. At the end of the day, Google employees were getting sick of dealing with angry letter after angry letter, followed by taking down requests on what ended up becoming a regular basis that was costing them a lot of time and energy.

At the time, all users would have to do was enter the person’s name and address information, then they would be able to see their phone number if it was in their database. As this service came to an end, it opened the door for other free (and paid) phone number lookup services, which started to surface.

The Different Ways You Can Do A Google Phone Number Lookup

When it comes to doing your Google phone number lookup, you’re going to have to take a look at a couple of things.

• Find out someone’s phone number.
• Find out who this number belongs to.

Here we will describe how you can achieve both via Google!

Find out someone’s phone number
Step One: Go to Google.com
Step Two: Enter the name of the person (or business) and their affiliated address details like their state, city, and zip code. A good example would be: John Doe 10005 or John Doe New York, New York.
Step Three: Review your results and determine if you have found the correct person’s phone number

Find out who the phone number belongs to

Step One: Go to Google.com
Step Two: Enter the correct phone number you want to find with the area code. A good example would be 1234567891 or 123-456-7891.
Step Three: View and determine if your results correctly match up with a person or business who is appearing in multiple results

When you conduct the above search strategies, you never really know what is going to happen, so don’t get your hopes too high. More times than not, the phone number will either not be updated, or just not in the database at all. Also, note that private phone numbers will be less likely to appear in Google searches.

In The Event Of An Emergency, You Can Go The Paid Route!

If a free version of a phone number lookup service with Google isn’t quite cutting it, you can always turn to a paid service. Kiwi Searches is a perfect example! It allows you to search for someone’s phone number, address, and name to get more background information about them. Your first search can be as low as $0.95, making it an extremely low risk. Naturally, paid services like Kiwi will increase your chances of finding what you’re looking for, but try the free route first!

The post How to Do a Google Phone Number Lookup appeared first on Newton Search.

These trends will dictate the future of retail

One thing brick-and-mortar stores have that online shopping can’t provide? A personalized experience of sorting through tangible items. Sure, you can scroll through your phone and browse items with pictures and descriptions, but that’s not the same as seeing things in person, especially for personalized items like clothing.

Brands can also perpetuate their own culture in brick-and-mortar stores, which can’t be replicated in any way, not even with a strong web design. Everything from the ambiance, to the smells and vibes you get from staff and turn a shopping chore into an experience that you can take with you.

New levels of retail merchandising will also offer an interactive approach that cannot be replicated online. This will go hand-and-hand with the culture brands will look to animate for their customers.

This is one way a brand’s culture can really come to life

In any business setting, efficiency is the way of the game. To compete with rival brick-and-mortars and online retailers, artificial intelligence will introduce big data and machine learning to stores that will help them operate smarter. It will use analytics to measure customer behavior and analyze trends, which help them predict future purchases.

Expect to see more small, even pop-up stores that cater to niche consumers. They are evolving from the once, heavily-relied shopping malls. These will have dedicated staff designed to help customers feel like it’s their custom, shopping experience. Because these small stores are designed for a more specific kind of shopper, they will work to be more productive and lead to a stronger word-of-mouth reputation.

Big stores give the illusion that consumers are on their own and THAT’S what the online experience can replicate, only in a more comfortable manner. Re-creating the personal experiences of the “old days” is what will bring back the joy of shopping.

Retail stores are taking the personal experience to mobile devices as well. For the past few years, retail brick-and-mortars are utilizing SMS text marketing to send promotions and exclusive offers via text messages. We see this trend heading upwards and expect stores will leverage these more, with how much more people are becoming involved with their mobile devices. These messaging strategies have a softer, less aggressive appeal than app-based messaging (plus they don’t require consumers to have downloaded a specific app).

The post The State of Retail in 2019 appeared first on Newton Search.

Just what information generally appears on a background check? Social Security numbers are verified, credit reports, criminal records including pending charges if any. While it may seem alarmist to perform a verification of the information presented by a potential new hire,there are very valid reasons for checking into a prospect’s background. According to the Department of Labor, just one bad apple, we mean applicant, can, if hired, has cost over 27% of U.S. companies over $50,000 a year in losses.

Generally, today’s businesses that perform background checks do so to minimize risk. One such example is to ensure a safe workplace. If a person causes harm to a coworker, the company is negligent and could be sued. Investigating the person before hiring might have revealed the person’s potential to cause harm to other staffers. Another reason, especially for retailers, is ‘shrink’ otherwise known as employee theft. This is the leading cause of loss for any product-related business. This is where a background check that could reveal an arrest record can be instrumental in ensuring that business profits increase and losses decline.

In some highly competitive industries, applicants have been known to pad their resumes by claiming to have degrees from certain colleges and universities and by presenting paper certificates as proof. However, in this day of PhotoShop and similar graphics programs, such certificates can easily be fabricated and printed. While today there are few individuals who have not been to college or who may be currently pursuing degrees online. These persons may have attended certain schools for a time, but possibly in another discipline other than the one in which they are applying, or perhaps never finished the full degree program. Still others may claim to have hold a diploma for a four-year course of study, but only earned an associates degree, or took a certificate course instead. In this way, screening applicants by checking not only for criminal actions, but also to see if they are in fact, suitable for the position is a great idea. It not only thins the herd, but also allows the best and most qualified candidates to shine.

Stop Product and Productivity Losses

Many companies now provide equipment for certain members of their staff, such as cell phones laptops, and even vehicles. Usually, these company-owned properties are provided with the express understanding that the device or vehicle is not for personal use during business hours. Increasingly these ‘perks’ are provided preloaded with tracking or ‘spying’ software applications and even GPS.This way employers can continue to perform random and routine background checks such as the exact location of a vehicle during the workday. They can keep tabs on their staff and quickly spot any negative or dishonest use of their vehicles or worker’s actions during while ‘on the clock’.

While most employees are honest, there are always a few who will attempt to game any and every system. Profitability is not always measured is hard dollars and cents. In other words it is not always what you make but also what you keep. For example an employer might want to know if a prospective sales call was ‘legit’ or not. Did their sales team actually go to their scheduled client meetings and if not, why not? Other ways that some dishonest workers pad their accounts are through ‘trips’ that never took place. Does their invoiced mileage dovetail their vehicle’s odometer data? A vehicle GPS system can alleviate concerns and target dishonest employees.

It is a fact that many people lie about their skills and accomplishments on their resume. For those who ‘embroider’ their resumes, their deception and shortcomings are generally quickly discovered, but only after they have reduced productivity, and cost the company human resource man hours. However, there is a limit to what may be probed in any person’s background check and, many databases, especially those in different states, are not easily accessible.

For example, before hiring a maintenance worker, a small company Googled his name, or, in fact, the name he provided on his resume. No issues were found. A few months later, however, the company President was drinking coffee and watching the news at home early one morning and was surprised to see a follow-up story about his maintenance foreman’s previous arrest. He was shocked to learn in the broadcast, that his employee also had three prior arrests, all under a different first name. An examination of his trackable company-owned tablet revealed that the foreman had been scouting his next robbery victim online while using said device. His actions provided ample proof of his criminal activity to law enforcement. That company now thoroughly background checks every prospective new hire.

It has often been said that one only has one chance to make a first impression. It is important that businesses safeguard themselves by making sure every applicant is indeed, putting their best foot forward. Today, to guarantee the safety of their workers and workplace, their bottom line, to find the best and most qualified candidates to join their staff and protect their most important feature, their corporate reputation, are the main reasons behind business background checks. So going forward, for those at any time in their remaining working lifetime may expect background checks, both random and routine, to be a staple among American business practices and therefore their job hunt.

The post Why More Employers Now Perform Background Checks appeared first on Newton Search.

The first caveat is to know your daily caloric intake allotment. This will be different for those seeking to increase muscle mass and those trying to shed extra pounds. Either way, the number that matters is the Calorie Maintenance Level. This number will be the jumping off point. Determine your range by multiplying your current weight first by 14, and then by 18. Your ideal daily caloric maintenance level falls between those two numbers.

For those with a higher metabolic rate, pick a number within the high end of the range. Losing weight? Go with a lower number. On to determining your goal. Weight loss candidates know they have to reduce their caloric intake, period. So if you recommended maintenance level is 2,000 calories a day, drop to 1,500 to ensure you’ll lose fat. For muscle builders, consuming more calories is the goal to create a surplus of calories from which your body will craft muscle. For men, add 250 calories a day to your maintenance level, and women, try 125 additional calories.

Combine Diet and Exercise for Success

Please note, these numbers are not cast in stone. Your scale will tell you if your calories need adjusting. Losing more than 2 lbs a week? That’s too much and you’ll lose fast, but regain the weight just as fast, so slow things down! For building muscle mass, men should see up to a 2-lb weight increase, and women, up to a pound. Next, and you knew we were getting around to it, what you eat is a important as how much you can eat.

Protein is key to attaining fitness. Healthy adults should eat 2 grams of protein per pound of weight per day. If you weigh 200-lbs, then 200 grams of quality protein from chicken, fish, turkey, lean red meat, eggs, milk, protein supplements, nuts and legumes will provide the best options for you. As for fat, reduce it, but make sure it accounts for 25% of your daily intake, even if your fitness goals are to lose weight. Your skin will thank you for it! Aim to ingest only healthy fats such as fish, musts, seeds, and olive oil. In every fitness diet, carbs may seem to get the short end of the stick. Whatever calories are left may be consumed as carbs. But not just any carbs! Avoid white processed carbohydrates. These will scuttle building lean muscle and losing stubborn fat. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and veggies, rice, potatoes of all kinds, and grains.

You might be wondering, how to put this all together? There are countless diets online that will tell you what to buy, along with weekly meal plans and recipes. As long as these diet plans follow the correct ratios for the amount of protein, fats, and carbs you’re allotted there should be no issues. Actually once it is up and running for a couple weeks, your diet will be easier to follow than your workout routine!

Work Your Diet Plan/Workout Into Your Schedule

On that note, your diet plan, like your fitness regimen must work into your schedule, not the other way around, or you’ll quickly abandon it. So, eat whenever you want. That’s right! You can also eat as often as you want to, eating whole meals, little snacks, or a combination of the two. However you want to play it. You can also eat whatever combination of foods best suits your needs. All carbs, all protein, a mix-up, whatever. Just do not eclipse your allotted caloric intake for the day. Also, forget about not eating after 8:00 PM. We all have different schedules and our bodies are attuned to work and digesting food around the clock, even while we are sleeping. That is a fact.

Many have asked if it is okay to take vitamin supplements as an adjunct to their fitness program. Absolutely! Not only is it a quick way to achieve nutritional balance and to replace nutrients lost during your workout, taking a supplement is a great way to take better care of yourself. In fact, there are vitamins especially formulated for improved energy, stamina, and cellular protection. These support skin health as well as ensure our teeth, hair, and vital organs will function optimally.

You’ll soon see that by augmenting your fitness regimen with a healthy diet, your surplus pounds will steadily vanish, replaced by a strong, lean, sculpted physique. Reps alone cannot accomplish this. Regaining and maintaining good health through fitness is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves. Another caveat is that occasional cheating is acceptable as long as it is offset by extended workout to burn calories. Also the expectation that results over the next few days will not be on target. Just start slow, forgive yourself the occasional hiccup, and shortly you’ll be hooked on a fitness regimen coupled with a sensible diet for life!

The post Fitness Training? Why Your Diet Matters appeared first on Newton Search.

A couple decades ago, travelers on long flights would have to be content with whatever the particular airline was offering in the form of first-run entertainment. Everyone in their class would have to view the same feature on a screen at the front of the section. Today, airlines’ entertainment service systems have be superseded by whatever streaming service individual passengers subscribe to. On board entertainment has become as personal as each passenger personal tastes dictate. Using their tablet or cell phone, most frequent fliers make the most of long flights catching up on first-run entertainment, current news, and even take online classes while in the air. The same scenario plays out aboard buses and trains. Today, everyone, everywhere is making their entertainment and information very personalized through video streaming options.

Technology has changed our entertainment and information sources. From its rise in the 1980s until the early 2000s, cable services, usually bundled as voice, internet, and TV, had no competition. For most Americans its prices soon escalated beyond their comfort zones. Alternatives to paying over $100 a month just for TV proved tempting and soon many consumers canceled their cable subscriptions in favor of far less costly streaming video services such as Netflix.

At the same time, Americans have become increasingly more mobile, and we take our entertainment with us. It is not enough to be skateboarding down the sidewalk to class, wearing headphones. Today’s campuses team with students who rush from class to next class while catching up on news and entertainment on their smartphones or mobile devices. For several years now, mobile users far exceed desktop users to access the internet. Savvy designers know to create product videos that may be streamed and lead to higher revenues. Below are the top reasons why video streaming is making such an impact on Americans:

Technology is Always Embraced By the Younger Generations First

Gen Xers and Millennials have spearheaded the move towards cable alternatives. According to eMarketer, 63% of Millennials watch live video and subscribe to streaming services for their news and entertainment. This demographic shift is influencing older generation baby boomers as well since these folks generally have more leisure time yet may live on a fixed income.

Individualized Viewing

As shown in the example about air travel, over the past twenty years, entertainment choices have become more personalized, and cater to individual tastes. Video streaming apps and streaming services embed cookies that enable the services to make recommendations based on viewing profiles. It both targets a consumer’s needs and creates customized content selections making it easy for viewers to choose what to watch next.

Entertainment that Follows Your Schedule

Since the inception of TV, programming schedules have dictated when a show may be viewed. Even with DVRs, one still has to set the timer to coincide with the time a program is aired. The beauty of streaming is that it is there when you want it, on your terms. Want to stop in the middle of a program and resume play later? No problem! Want to watch a program while eating lunch on a park bench? Can do! Taking a break at work? Why not catch up on your favorite program? Riding the rails to your job? Relive last night’s game highlights! Streaming incorporates video viewing into your life, you do not have to arrange your life around scheduled programming.

Pay Only for What You Need

Many subscription services offer consumers the option to select the features and functionality they need. This way they only pay for the content they will actually watch. This is unlike cable where one opts for package deals at varying price points. Just about every package includes stations one is unlikely to watch or have any interest in. It is very cost effective and a value add to get just what you want and need for only a few dollars a month.

Money Saved is Money Saved

Perhaps the strongest reason that video streaming has become the entertainment and information vehicle for the masses in this decade, and likely into the next is cost. In a still struggling economy where there is far less disposable income than ever before, expense-conscious Americans are choosing live programming and video streaming over cable and fiber optics. These vehicles provide the convenience, scalability, customization, and economy that makes us all feel that we are living large, even if we are doing so on a very restricted budget. That in itself, is the greatest technological breakthrough and means that these vehicles will support consumers’ needs for timely and cost-effective knowledge and entertainment, well into the foreseeable future.

The post Why Streaming Our Entertainment is So Popular appeared first on Newton Search.

Since 1980, however, there has been a major decline in the number of manufacturing jobs in the States. Wikipedia estimates that up to ⅓ of the manufacturing positions disappeared over the first decade of this century. Also, while the economy continues to post steady gains, that few of these jobs have returned. Some of the reasons for slow growth in this sector could be the fact that technological advances, such as widespread use of robotics, have replaced the need for many skilled workers.

For example, this is particularly true for assembly line production, where computer-driven robotic machines produce, assemble, weld, and convey a product from start to completion. Another reason for the decline in American manufacturing jobs is competition from foreign markets such as China. Since its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, competition from China has created a US. goods trade deficit (imports greater than exports) which, again according to Wikipedia, was approximately $350 billion in 2016.

Let’s begin with a list of the top industries (by revenue) currently fueling the American economy. These are:

• Petroleum
• Steel
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Telecommunication
• Chemicals
• Electronic
• Food processing
• Consumer goods
• Lumber
• Mining

The United States is the world’s second largest manufacturer, the U.S.’s Q3 2016 industrial output (nominal GDP, annualized) was approximately $2.18 trillion. Adjusted for inflation and other factors, this output still lags behind 2007’s pre-recession peak. Still, these figures have been trending upward since 2010.

Here are the top manufactured products that Business Insider and The Bureau of Economic Analysis, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce, posted that during 2016, the U.S. exported $1,051 billion in manufactured goods and imported $1,920 billion, (a manufacturing goods deficit of $868 billion). Below are some of the metrics that comprised America’s $2.1 trillion Export Industry that year:

• Electrical Equipment: total revenue of $32.2 billion.
• Fabricated Metal Products: total revenue of $32.6 billion.
• Medical Equipment, Sporting Goods, Misc.: total revenue of $39.4 billion.
• Primary Metal: total revenue of $49.6 billion.
• Food: total revenue of $50.9 billion.
• Petroleum and Coal Products: total revenue of $50.9 billion.
• Transportation Equipment: total revenue of $252.0 billion.
• Chemicals: total revenue of $174.0 billion.
• Computers and Electronic Products: total revenue of $116.0 billion.
• “Machinery-Except Electrical”: total revenue of $109.0 billion.

Another factor that indicates industry change is the co-production of what were once wholy American-made goods. The infamous North American-Foreign Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (signed and sealed in the 1990s but rolled out in this century) dictates that manufacturing is shared across globally-distributed supply chains. This means that different aspects of product development conducted in different countries. The best-known example is that cars are no longer completely produced in the U.S. Parts are manufactured in the States, then shipped to Mexico where they are assembled, then returned to the U.S. for distribution/sale. International production sharing is widely blamed for U.S. manufacturing job losses since 2000.

Currently, U.S. manufacturing continues its evolution, led by advances in information technology, supply-chain and distribution innovations, reduced barriers to trade, and less competition from low-wage countries like China and Mexico. During the fourth quarter, 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecast in October 2017 that manufacturing employment would fall from 12.3 million in 2016 to 11.6 million in 2026, a decline of 736,000. As a share of employment, manufacturing would fall from 7.9% in 2016 to 6.9% in 2026, continuing a long-term trend.

Rescinding trade agreements with Canada and Mexico was a hot topic during the 2016 Presidential election with American job preservation/creation a campaign issue that has yet to be resolved. Most experts agree that regardless of the outcome, the health and continuance of the manufacturing industry in the U.S. is integral to the overall health of the U.S. economy.

It is also important to note that while manufacturing was integral to boosting the United State’s post-war economy, that today the measure of the health of a nation is not chiefly its manufacturing output. (The size and spending strength of a nation’s middle class as well as its education system are additional factors that determine whether a nation is a world leader or a country in development.) Therefore, while U.S. manufacturing employment trends down, manufacturing output in 2017 was near record levels for real Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This means that productivity (output per worker) has also improved significantly. This is likely due to automation, global supply chains, process improvements, technology innovations and consumer demand. So that while technology takes away a number of jobs, it facilitates the production processes, reduces the time to market for most manufactured goods, and from an output standpoint, is not a negative statistic

In conclusion, U.S. manufacturing has been reshaped markedly since the days when Henry Ford’s production line was considered revolutionary. Technology and the world stage both impact where, when, and how American goods are made and in what quantities. Given the innovation of one and the sometimes volatile nature of the other, these factors will continue to dictate what is made, where these products are made, and how they are made for decades to come.

The post What Are the Top Manufacturing Industries in the U.S. Today and How Do They Contribute to the Economy? appeared first on Newton Search.

First some backstory. In the third quarter of 2008, a global financial crisis erupted. It was caused by worldwide deregulation in the financial industry. These actions allowed banks to engage in hedge fund trading with derivatives. Hedge funds are privately-owned firms that pool investor’s money and reinvest these funds into often risky and unregulated instruments. The goal is to outperform the market and return high dividends for their clients.

The odds for the success for any high-risk venture are not great. In fact, these investments have underperformed the market since 2009. To compensate, banks turned to the same lending instrument they had used during the previous downturn in the 1980s- mortgages. It was a decision that was doomed to failure yet again. The Federal Reserve continued to raise the federal funds rate which means that the prime lending rate mortgages are based on rose as well. In response, housing prices began to fall as supply outpaced demand.

Why the Bubble Burst

Caught in the middle were homeowners and businesses who could no longer afford to make payments on their balloon, interest-only, and adjustable mortgages (many opted in as these were easier to obtain than fixed-rate loans). Worldwide, the defaulted loan rate soared. That action lowered banks’ incomes which are primarily based on the interest each receives from the number of loans they extend. As of 2007, these risky loans had grown into a $1.3 trillion industry. At the same time, these loans were creating an asset bubble, which can only burst. The banking crisis came to a head in 2007, and its trickle-down effect on Wall Street the following year.

While banks formed the epicenter of the 2008 financial meltdown, the stock market was the first to start the rally that began to bring the economy back to acceptable levels. Which sectors rallied first? Which are undergoing a renaissance today and who is poised to succeed next? It is important to know that the economy is not static. Also that it tends to run in cycles. During the recent ‘adjustment’, however, a number of industries were able to right themselves and to stay the course: Beverages, Power and Electric, Retail, Consumer Goods, Precious Metals, and Mining. As a result, the economy saw steady growth over an extended period that exceeds the normal 58-month average. Over time these industries were joined by others, which also further strengthened the economy.

Picking Up the Baton

Today, according to Sageworks, a financial information company, Information-technology and Construction firms dominate as the fastest-growing industrial sectors. Collectively, IT companies posted an average of 18% sales growth through December 31st, 2017. Compared to all industries posting gains last year, IT and Construction’s increases were almost double that of the pack. These gains speak to consumer and business needs such as housing requirements, as well as software development and testing, computer systems’ design, and IT infrastructure. As expected ancillary businesses are also thriving. For example, construction trades, supplies, and suppliers such as building finishing, foundations, exterior work, contractors who install or maintain utilities, elevators, civil engineering, dredging, and roadwork, all posted gains of 13% or more.

While the U.S. economy is not yet booming, it is at least humming along relatively smoothly. Remember, when the economy peaks, that high will be short-lived and will be followed by a trough that impacts consumer employment and spending habits. Today Construction is on top, however, it is this same industry that suffered the heaviest losses during the 2008 economic downturn. So then, what are the next great industries poised to experience growth over the next 5-10 years?

Crystal ball notwithstanding, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the goods-producing sectors, manufacturing, professional and business services, state and local governments, healthcare, retail, and hospitality industries will post the highest job openings, therefore are expected to post the highest economic gains through 2025. If there is a lesson to be learned regarding the economy, it is that it rises and falls. For those in industries that have posted historical peaks and valleys, it would be prudent to save while you can, as booms never last.

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Since 1980, however, there has been a major decline in the number of manufacturing jobs in the States. Wikipedia estimates that up to ⅓ of the manufacturing positions disappeared over the first decade of this century. Also, while the economy continues to post steady gains, that few of these jobs have returned. Some of the reasons for slow growth in this sector could be the fact that technological advances, such as widespread use of robotics, have replaced the need for many skilled workers.

For example, this is particularly true for assembly line production, where computer-driven robotic machines produce, assemble, weld, and convey a product from start to completion. Another reason for the decline in American manufacturing jobs is competition from foreign markets such as China. Since its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, competition from China has created a US. goods trade deficit (imports greater than exports) which, again according to Wikipedia, was approximately $350 billion in 2016.

Let’s begin with a list of the top industries (by revenue) currently fueling the American economy. These are:

• Petroleum
• Steel
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Telecommunication
• Chemicals
• Electronic
• Food processing
• Consumer goods
• Lumber
• Mining

The United States is the world’s second-largest manufacturer, the U.S.’s Q3 2016 industrial output (nominal GDP, annualized) was approximately $2.18 trillion. Adjusted for inflation and other factors, this output still lags behind 2007’s pre-recession peak. Still, these figures have been trending upward since 2010.

Here are the top manufactured products that Business Insider and The Bureau of Economic Analysis, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce, posted that during 2016, the U.S. exported $1,051 billion in manufactured goods and imported $1,920 billion, (a manufacturing goods deficit of $868 billion). Below are some of the metrics that comprised America’s $2.1 trillion Export Industry that year:

• Electrical Equipment: total revenue of $32.2 billion.
• Fabricated Metal Products: total revenue of $32.6 billion.
• Medical Equipment, Sporting Goods, Misc.: total revenue of $39.4 billion.
• Primary Metal: total revenue of $49.6 billion.
• Food: total revenue of $50.9 billion.
• Petroleum and Coal Products: total revenue of $50.9 billion.
• Transportation Equipment: total revenue of $252.0 billion.
• Chemicals: total revenue of $174.0 billion.
• Computers and Electronic Products: total revenue of $116.0 billion.
• “Machinery-Except Electrical”: total revenue of $109.0 billion.

Another factor that indicates industry change is the co-production of what were once wholly American-made goods. The infamous North American-Foreign Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (signed and sealed in the 1990s but rolled out in this century) dictates that manufacturing is shared across globally-distributed supply chains. This means that different aspects of product development conducted in different countries. The best-known example is that cars are no longer completely produced in the U.S. Parts are manufactured in the States, then shipped to Mexico where they are assembled, then returned to the U.S. for distribution/sale. International production sharing is widely blamed for U.S. manufacturing job losses since 2000.

Currently, U.S. manufacturing continues its evolution, led by advances in information technology, supply chain, and distribution innovations, reduced barriers to trade, and less competition from low-wage countries like China and Mexico. During the fourth quarter, 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecast in October 2017 that manufacturing employment would fall from 12.3 million in 2016 to 11.6 million in 2026, a decline of 736,000. As a share of employment, manufacturing would fall from 7.9% in 2016 to 6.9% in 2026, continuing a long-term trend.

Rescinding trade agreements with Canada and Mexico was a hot topic during the 2016 Presidential election with American job preservation/creation a campaign issue that has yet to be resolved. Most experts agree that regardless of the outcome, the health and continuance of the manufacturing industry in the U.S. is integral to the overall health of the U.S. economy.

It is also important to note that while manufacturing was integral to boosting the United State’s post-war economy, that today the measure of the health of a nation is not chiefly its manufacturing output. (The size and spending strength of a nation’s middle class, as well as its education system, are additional factors that determine whether a nation is a world leader or a country in development.) Therefore, while U.S. manufacturing employment trends down, manufacturing output in 2017 was near record levels for real Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This means that productivity (output per worker) has also improved significantly. This is likely due to automation, global supply chains, process improvements, technology innovations and consumer demand. So that while technology takes away a number of jobs, it facilitates the production processes, reduces the time to market for most manufactured goods, and from an output standpoint, is not a negative statistic

In conclusion, U.S. manufacturing has been reshaped markedly since the days when Henry Ford’s production line was considered revolutionary. Technology and the world stage both impact where, when, and how American goods are made and in what quantities. Given the innovation of one and the sometimes volatile nature of the other, these factors will continue to dictate what is made, where these products are made, and how they are made for decades to come.

photo credit: Wikimedia

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