Postal Service Mailboxes

October 28, 2011 — The Editors

Blue USPO Mailbox

While the United States Postal Service publicizes the closing of thousands of post offices nationwide, the laying off of workers, and the end of Saturday delivery, one service the Postal Service offers has been slowly, quietly disappearing: the corner mailbox.

Once a staple in many neighborhoods, the blue mailbox on the corner is now slowly fading into history. Nancy Pope of the Smithsonian Institution commented thus about the significance of the corner mailbox: “Nothing says you’re on an American street more than the blue mailbox. It’s part of a neighborhood identity. It’s reassurance, it represents our ability to communicate with one another. When you take this away, something is lost.” At one time these blue mailboxes were seemingly everywhere. A convenience that perhaps has been taken for granted over the years. Data show the number of United States Postal Service blue mailboxes nationwide.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1985 and 2011
Market Size: 400,000 and 160,000 respectively
Source: Bob Greene, “Farewell My Mailbox,” CNN.com, September 8, 2011, available online here. The charming little image used above was obtained from this site, and used with our thanks.
Original Source: Research by Carolyn Jones of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Posted on October 28, 2011

Posted in Mail & Postage, Metals, National Infrastructure. 1 Comment »

The Business of Weddings

October 5, 2011 — The Editors

Today’s market size is an estimate of the size of the entire wedding industry in the United States—we take some license in using the word “industry” here. The things included in measuring the size of the wedding industry are many, from planning, apparel and jewelry through the ceremony, flowers, food, reception and honeymoon.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: $47.2 billion
Source: Toon Van Beeck and George Van Horn, “Wedding Bells are Ringing,” The RMA Journal, December 2010-January 2011, page 22-27, available online here.
Original source: IBISWorld
Posted on October 5, 2011

Posted in Apparel, Clothes, Entertainment, Food Service, Metals, Personal Services, Shoes, Travel. No Comments »

Molybdenum

June 8, 2011 — The Editors

U.S. production and consumption figures for Molybdenum over 30 years

Molybdenum, a Group 6 chemical, is a refractory metallic element. The ability of molybdenum to withstand extreme temperatures without expanding or softening very much makes it useful in a variety of applications that involve intense heat. The manufacture of armour, aircraft parts, electrical contacts, industrial motors and filaments are among the industrial uses of molybdenum. It is used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron, and superalloys to enhance corrosion resistance, strength, toughness, and weldability.

Today’s market size is the value of domestically produced molybdenum based on the average oxide price in 2010. The graphic shows production and apparent consumption figures for a period of 30 years, from 1980 — 2010. Apparent consumption is a calculated figure based on production, plus imports, less exports plus or minus change in stock.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: $885 million
Source: “Molybdenum Statistics and Information” part of a series of reports on different minerals and commodities produced by the U.S. Geological Survey and available online here.
Original Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Posted in Metals, Mining. 4 Comments »

Minerals in Wyoming

June 2, 2011 — The Editors

Taxable value of WY minerals

Mining and extraction industries in Wyoming saw a significant decline in 2009 after peaking in 2008 for the decade but 2010 saw a strong recovery over 2009. The graph shows taxable value for all minerals extracted annually in Wyoming from 2001 through 2010. Wyoming’s mineral wealth is providing the state with a strong base for recovery from the recession that began in December 2007.

Today’s market size is the total value of all minerals extracted in 2010. The minerals included in this total are oil, natural gas, coal, bentonite, trona, uranium, sand and gravel.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2001 and 2010
Market size: $6.74 and $15.49 billion respectively
Source: Barron, Joan, “State’s Mineral Valuation Booms,” Casper Star Tribune, page 1, June 1, 2011.
Original Source: State of Wyoming

Posted in Coal, Energy, Metals, Mining, Natural Resources, Oil & Gas. No Comments »

Iron & Steel

May 31, 2011 — The Editors

Iron & Steel in the U.S. over 30 years

The year 2010 saw a strong recovery for iron ore production in the United States after a particularly strong downturn in 2009. The market size presented today is the value of all iron and steel production in the country in 2010. The state of Indiana accounted for 24% of the total raw steel production, followed by Ohio with 10%, and Michigan and Pennsylvania each accounting for 7%.

The graphic shows iron and steel production and apparent consumption figures for a period of 30 years, from 1980—2010. Apparent consumption is a calculated figure based on production, plus imports, less exports plus or minus change in stock.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: $139 billion
Source: “Iron and Steel, Statistics and Information,” Mineral Industry Survey, a series of reports produced by the U.S.Geological Survey, made available online and last updated on May 19, 2011. Here is a link to the USGS site.
Original Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS

Posted in Metals, Mining. 1 Comment »

Gold

May 27, 2011 — The Editors

Gold has long been considered essentially a monetary metal. In the late 20th century, however, gold’s superior electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion caused it to emerge as an essential industrial metal. Gold now performs critical functions in computers, communications equipment, jet aircraft engines, and a host of other products, although the largest single use for gold is still in the production of jewelry.

The trade in gold has been robust of late—particluarly since the financial crisis that began with the last recession and the busting of the housing bubble—and gold prices have risen sharply. The estimated price in 2010 was 23 percent higher than in 2009, hitting a high in November 2010 of $1,424.07 per troy ounce.

The graphic shows gold production and apparent consumption figures for a period of 30 years, from 1980—2010. Apparent consumption is a calculated figure based on production, plus imports, less exports plus or minus change in stock.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: $8.9 billion
Source: “Gold, Statistics and Information,” Mineral Industry Survey, a series of reports produced by the U.S.Geological Survey, made available online and last updated on May 19, 2011. Here is a link to the USGS site.
Original Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS

Posted in Metals. 2 Comments »

Copper

May 23, 2011 — The Editors

Copper mining history in the U.S.

The price of copper has been rising for a few years now so a 5% decline in the quantity of copper mined in the United States between 2009 and 2010 did not result in a loss of value in the total copper mined. Today’s market size is the quantity and value of copper mined in the United States in 2010. The graphic shows production and apparent consumption figures for a period of 30 years, from 1980 — 2010. Apparent consumption is a calculated figure based on production, plus imports, less exports plus or minus change in stock.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: 1.12 million metric tons valued at $8.4 billion
Source: “Copper,” Mineral Commodity Summary 2011, page 48, January 2011, available online here.
Original Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS

Posted in Construction Materials, Metals. No Comments »

Steel Production

March 21, 2011 — The Editors

The production of crude steel around the world rebounded in 2010, rising 15% over the 2009 production levels. In terms of crude steel production by nation, China led the world in 2010 with 44.32% of world production, followed by Japan with 7.75%, the United States with 5.70% and Russia with 4.47%.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2010
Market size: 1,414 million metric tons
Source: “World Crude Steel Output Increases by 15% in 2010,” January 21, 2011, p. NA. Available online here.
Original Source: World Steel Association
Posted on March 21, 2011

Posted in Construction Materials, Metals, Mining. No Comments »

Metal Household Furniture Market

August 30, 2010 — The Editors

This market covers both furniture for the interior and exterior of the home as well as furniture sold assembled and that sold ready-to-assemble.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $2.26 Billion
Source: Annual Survey of Manufactures, 2008, March 30, 2010, p. NA [Online] here.
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Posted in Furniture, Market Size, Metals. 1 Comment »
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