AMT: Strong US economic growth driven by investment in machinery , other capital goods
Real U.S. economic output increased at an annualized rate of 3.4% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the advanced estimate issued today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The reported rate of economic growth in the third quarter exceeded the previous quarter, which grew 2.2% after revisions. Durable goods consumption grew at a slower pace than the previous quarter, but business fixed investment in equipment rose more than 20% on an annualized basis in the third quarter.
“While consumer outlays on goods grew at a slightly slower pace, the acceleration in business investment is giving the economy the extra jolt of growth seen in today’s report,” said Christopher Chidzik, principal economist of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. “Investments in AI infrastructure get many headlines, but the appetite for additional equipment and capacity is coming from nearly every corner of the manufacturing economy. In the coming days, additional data on manufacturing technology investment will reveal the extent to which the need for additional metalworking machinery has driven this surge in investment.”
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The September/October issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Rotator Products. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
