U.S. factory activity contracted for a sixth-straight month in April, the longest such stretch since 2009 and a sign of lingering malaise in manufacturing.

U.S. business activity unexpectedly climbed this month to nearly a one-year high, bolstered by stronger services and manufacturing that threatens to reignite inflationary pressures.

Electric vehicle production in North America is finally creeping up on EV demand, as automakers like Volkswagen, Ford, Lucid and Rivian hustle to close the output gap with front-runner Tesla.

A gauge of manufacturing improved for the first time in six months, though activity remained in contraction territory amid fragile demand and growing inflationary pressures.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Feb. 27 hailed the massive Panasonic battery plant planned for De Soto, Kan., as part of a wave of industrial production centered on electric vehicles that is spurring an “American renaissance” in manufacturing.

Ford Motor Co. is extending the shutdown of its F-150 Lightning pickup plant for a fourth week as it works to resolve a problem that caused a battery fire in one of the electric trucks.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check.

Rivian Automotive Inc. is reducing its headcount by 6%, but sparing assembly line workers at its sole operational plant in Normal, Ill., from the cutbacks.

The U.S. manufacturing downturn deepened in January, fueled by a further pullback in orders and factory production.

U.S. manufacturing activity contracted for a second month in December, capping the steepest annual slide in the key factory gauge since 2008 and helping to further tame price pressures.