L&M Tool and Industrial Supply

09/01/2026

U.S. economic growth slowed to a 1.5% annual pace in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in Q1.

Despite the slower headline number, several areas showed strength:
✅ Consumer spending increased at a 3.4% annual pace, up from 0.5% in Q1
✅ Business investment outside of housing rose 8.5%
✅ A measure of underlying economic growth increased 4.2%, up from 1.7%
✅ Housing investment increased for the first time since late 2024

Imports rose sharply during the quarter and subtracted 1.64 percentage points from overall GDP growth.

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Consumer spending, however, increased at a healthy annual clip.

08/27/2026

Production bottlenecks don’t always start on the production floor.

Clear, consistent internal communication can play a major role in keeping manufacturing teams aligned, productive, and prepared for change.

From new technology and process updates to safety initiatives and workforce changes, strong communication helps ensure employees:
✅ Understand company priorities and expectations
✅ Receive consistent information across teams and shifts
✅ Know where to turn with questions
✅ Stay connected to the company’s goals and culture

And the impact can be significant. Miscommunication is estimated to cost U.S. businesses $1.2 trillion each year.

Get more details with L&M Tool: https://bit.ly/4cW8NOD

08/25/2026

Cutting Tool Shipments Jump 31.7% Year-Over-Year in June

U.S. cutting tool shipments reached $270.5 million in June, while first-half 2026 shipments totaled $1.47 billion, up 19.3% compared to the same period last year.

Unit shipments also increased in June, although industry leaders noted that higher raw material costs have played a significant role in the overall dollar growth.

With raw material prices showing signs of leveling off, the cutting tool industry remains poised for growth over the next 10 to 12 months.

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June orders rose by 31.7% year-over-year.

08/20/2026

What does this moment require?

It’s a leadership question managers can overlook when a project stalls or results fall short. Instead of automatically adding more direction, pressure or oversight, the better response starts with identifying what the team actually needs:

▪️Clarity: Does everyone understand the outcome, priorities and expectations?
▪️Energy: Does the team have the capacity, confidence and focus to move forward?
▪️Ownership: Is it clear who is responsible for the next decision or action?

Effective leadership means matching the response to the situation and adjusting as conditions change.

Get more insights with L&M Tool: https://bit.ly/4wzJVmM

08/18/2026

U.S. consumers pulled back in July, with retail sales posting their biggest monthly decline in more than a year.

Sales fell 0.6% from June to $763.6 billion, compared with expectations for a slight increase. Auto and parts sales dropped 1.8%, while online sales fell 2.2%.

Excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations, sales were down a more modest 0.2% for the month.

Despite July’s slowdown, total retail sales were still 5% higher than a year ago.

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Among major categories, retail sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were down, as was spending at grocery stores, U.S. Department of Commerce data show.

08/13/2026

Successful change starts by understanding what’s getting in the way of the people doing the work.

Change becomes harder when the systems, processes, and expectations around the work don’t support what people are being asked to do.

Successful change programs focus on:
✅ Building real agreement around why and how change is happening
✅ Giving employees agency, not just involvement
✅ Removing barriers that make new behaviors harder to adopt
✅ Using feedback to understand how employees are responding
✅ Creating processes that build and maintain momentum

As technology continues to change the workplace, people remain at the center of making that change successful.

Read more with L&M Tool: https://bit.ly/4wYgyfb

08/11/2026

AD members delivered a record-setting first half of 2026, with sales topping $58 billion.

Key results from the first six months of the year include:
📈 Total member sales increased 15%
📈 Same-store sales grew 10%
📈 Member purchases from AD suppliers increased 24%
📈 AD added a net 79 new members

The results point to continued growth across AD’s independent distribution network heading into the second half of the year.

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The buying group also added nearly 80 new members during that span.

08/06/2026

Problems cannot be fixed if employees are afraid to bring them forward.

High-performing companies create a culture where mistakes and bad news are treated as opportunities to learn, improve processes, and prevent the same issues from happening again.

A leader’s first response matters. Listening, asking questions, and supporting problem-solving encourages employees to speak up. Blame teaches them to keep the next problem hidden.

Continuous improvement starts by making problems visible.

Get the full insights with L&M Tool https://bit.ly/454sdNf

08/04/2026

Metalforming manufacturers are heading into the next few months with a steady, but cautious, outlook.

According to the Precision Metalforming Association’s July Business Conditions Report:
✅ 65% expect general economic activity to remain unchanged
✅ 24% anticipate an increase in activity
✅ 48% expect incoming orders to remain flat
✅ Nearly one-third expect orders to increase

Although most manufacturers are not forecasting a downturn, higher costs, supply chain challenges, and changing tariff policies continue to complicate decisions around hiring, production, and investment.

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Nearly half, meanwhile, expect incoming orders to be flat in the coming months.

07/30/2026

The USMCA remains in place, but the future of North American trade has become less predictable.

After the agreement was not extended for another 16 years, it will now be reviewed annually through 2036 unless the United States, Canada and Mexico reach a new agreement sooner.

The current rules remain unchanged, but future negotiations could affect:
✅ Cross-border supply chains
✅ Steel, aluminum and other material costs
✅ Regional sourcing requirements
✅ Rules of origin and USMCA qualification
✅ Pricing and long-term investment decisions

Industry stakeholders expect the agreement to remain in place, but they also anticipate meaningful changes to how goods are sourced, manufactured and moved across North America.

Read more on the future of USMCA with L&M Tool: https://bit.ly/4g5f4sr