The metalworking manufacturing industry registered quickening expansion in February according to the Gardner Business Index (GBI): Metalworking with a 56.0 reading, up 2.5-points from January. The upward gains made by the overall index were driven by the growing proportion of metalworking shops which reported increasing new orders and employment. Strong new orders activity coupled with a relatively modest expansion in production activity since 4Q 2020 may explain the strong expansion now being witnessed in the latest backlogs reading. Metalworking Business Index: The Metalworking Business Index reported expanding activity during February. Rising new orders, employment and backlog activity pushed the index higher. Slowing order-to-fulfillment times sent the supplier delivery reading to a new all-time high.