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Jan Schafer Director of Market Research
Jan is a market research professional who loves learning and adding value to the businesses of Gardner’s advertisers, audience, and the company itself. Her curiosity, business knowledge, client service and shameless resourcefulness combine to enable Jan to lead research in manufacturing from objective-setting (do not even try to bypass it…) to delivering data-based recommendations (can’t dodge those either…) Jan attributes her capabilities to education in psychology and business administration followed by a healthy dose of ‘mixing it up.’ Her experience includes tending bar (more useful than you might expect,) early years (okay, 15!) at Procter & Gamble, developing her own consulting business, and leading supply-side research before landing the perfect gig at Gardner.
Moldmaking Activity Accelerated Contraction in July
July’s moldmaking index accelerated contraction for the third month in a row, though the magnitude was considerably less than last month.
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Moldmaking Accelerated Contraction in June
June’s moldmaking index took a relatively steep downward turn, landing at a new low for the year.
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Moldmaking Activity Contracted a Bit Faster
May’s moldmaking index took a downward turn, departing from what had been a five-month path of slowing contraction, inching toward flat.
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Moldmaking Activity Has Contracted in a Desirable Direction
April’s moldmaking index contracted again but continued to inch toward a reading of 50 — the hurdle to cross before entering expansion.
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Contraction in Moldmaking Activity Slowed Again in March
While still contracting, March’s moldmaking index is back on track, albeit at a slower pace, to potentially cross back over into expansion territory.
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Moldmaking Activity Returns to Accelerated Contraction
February’s index dropped from the more positive readings seen in January, landing on par with July 2023 and remaining in contraction mode.
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Moldmaking Activity Begins 2024 With Slowed Contraction
January index reading reflects February-March 2023 readings as it slinks toward a reading of 50. There are high hopes that it may continue on this path to sustained expansion for 2024.
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Contraction in Moldmaking Activity Slowed According to GBI
The moldmaking index almost bounced back to November’s reading but stopped one point shy, as most components slowed or stabilized contraction in December.
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November GBI Saw a Drop in Moldmaking Activity
The moldmaking index experienced a high degree of accelerated contract, primarily driven by production, new orders and backlog readings.
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GBI Shifts to Second Straight Month of Slowing Contraction
While contraction has been an ongoing course for activity in the GBI: Moldmaking, its slight slowing might suggest that positive change is coming.
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GBI: Moldmaking Undertakes Slightly Slowing Contraction
While most component activities remained unchanged in September, employment and supplier deliveries indicate a brief let-up from the contraction trend.
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Contraction is the Consistent Trend for Moldmaking
The August Gardner Business Index (GBI): Moldmaking saw more of the same contraction activity that has been reported the last four months.
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