A gauge of factory activity unexpectedly increased to 60.7 from 57.5 a month earlier, according to Institute for Supply Management data released Tuesday. Readings above 50 indicate expansion and the figure exceeded all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Manufacturers now have the spring to consider. If all goes well, the combination of the vaccination rollout and warmer weather will lead to dramatically fewer new Covid-19 cases, allowing consumers to lower their guards to some degree and state and local authorities to ease back on restrictions. However, given that a lot of people loaded up on goods during the pandemic, effectively bringing a lot of demand forward, the easing of Covid-19’s grip might not be an outright boon for manufacturers.

Talk to manufacturing founders about their fundraising journeys and they’ll tell you how hard it is to raise startup capital for a business that makes stuff. They’ll also tell you it can be done. They did it, and others can too.

Amazon is expanding its airfreight capacity with an investment in 11 new Boeing 767-300s that will be added to its Air network over the course of the next two years, according to a press release.

The coronavirus pandemic snarled the world’s sprawling supply chains for months, shutting factories, disrupting shipping and making it difficult for companies to get products from factories to consumers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has fined General Electric $200 million to settle charges for misleading investors regarding its power and insurance businesses.

CEO Mary Barra’s team cut the typical four-year development cycle in half for next year’s vehicle. But the question remains: Will anybody bite?

The U.S. Army will purchase the latest iteration of the M1 Abrams tank in a $4.62 billion contract with General Dynamics, the Defense Department announced.

Shifting consumer shopping habits during the COVID-19 pandemic drove changes all up and down the supply chain — including in the way goods are packaged.

Early in the pandemic, it was apparent that there would be worldwide lockdowns of varying degrees. So naturally, there was a run on toilet paper (and to a lesser extent, paper towels and tissues). Stores suddenly found themselves sold out of one of the most basic conveniences consumed by humans.

The coronavirus pandemic has left some of the world’s biggest shipping lines facing mounting backlogs and delays, straining international supply chains and threatening to disrupt global trade.