Zebra Spindle Index

In one paragraph

The Zebra Spindle Index for 2026-08 is 107.7 (100 = 2012–2024 norm; 10 points = one robust standard deviation), down 1.7 from the prior month. It is a coincident measure of U.S. metalworking activity built from 9 public federal series — machine-shop industrial production, machine-shop weekly hours, deflated new orders, carbide-insert imports by weight, and machine-tool and insert exports . Zebra Skimmers separately publishes a proprietary Coolant-System Activity Pulse beside it as an independent real-world reference signal; the Pulse is not an input to the index.

Cite as: Zebra Skimmers, Zebra Spindle Index, 2026-08 release, https://spindleindex.zebraskimmers.com/ — data CC BY 4.0. Full history as JSON/CSV: get a free data key.

5 domains · 9 public series · 100% traceable
coincident index
latest revision 2026-10-07
107.7
2026-08 · ▼ 1.7 vs prior month · 100 = calibration-period norm, 10 points = one robust SD

Metalworking activity in 2026-08 was running about 0.8 robust standard deviations above its 2012–2024 norm.

78.3%
Fabricated-metals capacity utilization, 2026-08 (Fed G.17, CAPUTLG332S)
111 · Well above normal
Zebra Coolant-System Activity Pulse, 2026-08 — a delayed, aggregated indicator of activity in Zebra consumables and replacement parts. Published separately from the index and not used in the ZSI calculation.

Index history (latest revision)

Components — 2026-08

Machine-shop output (IP, NAICS 3327)
z +0.88 · w 0.250
IPG3327S ↗
Fabricated-metals output (IP, 332)
z +1.51 · w 0.075
IPG332S ↗
Machinery output (IP, 333)
z +0.93 · w 0.075
IPG333S ↗
Machine-shop weekly hours
z +0.14 · w 0.100
CES3132700007 ↗
Fab-metal new orders, real
z +0.36 · w 0.090
A32SNO ÷ PCU332332 ↗
Metalworking-machinery orders, real
z -0.26 · w 0.060
A33INO ÷ PCU33353335 ↗
Carbide-insert imports, kg
z +0.71 · w 0.200
HTS 8209.00.00.30/.60 ↗
Machine-tool exports, real
z -0.46 · w 0.075
HS 8456–8466 ÷ PCU33353335 ↗
Carbide-insert exports, real
z +2.96 · w 0.075
HS 8209 ÷ PCU333515333515 ↗

Zebra Pulse beside the index — last 24 months

The Pulse is a proprietary Zebra reference series for a directional comparison with broader U.S. metalworking activity: 100 = normal, higher = more activity. Observations are delayed, aggregated, rounded and may be suppressed when sample size or customer concentration does not meet Zebra's confidentiality standards. It is not an input to the index.

Table

Show all 186 months
monthZSIC2C2bC3C5C4C6C1aC10C11
2026-08107.70.881.510.930.140.36-0.260.71-0.462.96
2026-07109.40.861.441.161.141.360.290.65-0.492.40
2026-06107.20.180.731.111.061.890.790.32-0.031.96
2026-05104.40.040.560.931.701.201.99-0.78-0.551.52
2026-04102.10.130.040.751.920.701.48-0.97-1.170.71
2026-03102.50.410.101.112.200.160.46-0.27-1.99-0.05
2026-0299.60.130.031.160.920.37-0.54-0.37-2.20-0.20
2026-0198.9-0.340.311.320.500.32-1.010.08-2.22-0.24
2025-1298.1-0.470.650.750.000.34-0.13-0.26-1.77-0.15
2025-11100.7-0.310.940.430.570.330.390.27-1.39-0.27
2025-1098.3-0.230.850.120.140.260.91-0.67-1.48-0.40
2025-0996.9-0.530.350.42-0.210.280.16-0.51-1.37-0.60
2025-0894.6-0.620.320.67-1.990.06-0.04-0.48-1.47-0.73
2025-0795.8-0.430.560.82-2.41-0.20-0.190.09-1.26-0.91
2025-0696.3-0.301.340.70-2.48-0.60-0.030.20-1.71-0.79
2025-0596.7-0.711.090.83-0.64-1.16-0.490.67-2.05-1.14
2025-0495.9-1.310.990.68-0.07-0.90-0.450.69-1.63-1.37
2025-0395.9-1.190.280.890.21-1.13-0.030.43-1.35-1.40
2025-0298.2-0.420.400.48-0.14-0.530.160.57-1.13-1.58
2025-0199.20.29-0.150.410.28-0.41-0.240.24-0.83-1.72
2024-1298.30.01-0.61-0.430.430.82-0.860.27-1.21-1.65
2024-1195.4-0.60-1.22-0.430.351.39-0.39-0.51-1.33-1.55
2024-1095.5-1.12-1.50-0.550.211.260.320.19-1.30-1.43
2024-0996.5-0.84-1.030.050.430.600.52-0.16-0.70-1.49
2024-0896.2-0.59-0.84-0.130.780.140.09-0.31-0.86-1.65
2024-0795.3-0.22-0.42-0.110.570.29-0.92-1.09-1.09-1.33
2024-0696.1-0.23-0.61-0.15-0.070.35-1.21-0.40-0.75-1.21
2024-0596.0-0.24-0.200.11-1.14-0.03-0.70-0.690.23-0.73
2024-0496.4-0.630.000.13-2.06-0.460.55-0.070.30-0.06
2024-0391.8-1.130.04-0.22-2.84-0.911.06-0.96-0.390.03
2024-0292.2-1.51-0.47-0.54-2.06-0.600.47-0.32-0.630.22
2024-0192.3-1.58-0.59-0.70-1.49-0.230.27-0.54-0.660.38
2023-1297.7-1.24-0.66-0.670.140.340.030.290.390.54
2023-1199.3-0.89-0.52-0.39-0.210.720.460.500.380.21
2023-1099.9-0.54-0.68-0.150.070.98-0.650.530.37-0.04
2023-0999.6-0.19-0.40-0.16-0.711.10-0.460.59-0.79-0.19
2023-0899.1-0.13-0.23-0.45-0.350.48-1.490.54-0.690.31
2023-0799.1-0.06-0.07-0.83-0.07-0.09-1.170.42-0.300.22
2023-0695.6-0.61-0.21-0.94-0.07-0.79-1.27-0.310.050.16
2023-0596.3-0.47-0.29-0.56-0.21-0.82-0.20-0.35-0.04-0.16
2023-0495.5-0.39-0.47-0.01-0.21-1.06-0.48-0.790.02-0.20
2023-0398.70.22-0.750.460.57-1.00-0.76-0.600.54-0.11
2023-0296.60.13-0.770.000.43-0.68-1.39-1.160.45-0.12
2023-0198.00.24-0.33-0.150.35-0.31-0.60-0.870.29-0.57
2022-1297.10.280.17-0.01-0.07-0.32-0.58-1.120.00-1.10
2022-1199.90.550.900.450.00-0.54-0.19-0.820.22-0.59
2022-1098.60.470.660.34-0.35-0.48-0.80-1.070.29-0.16
2022-0998.30.100.28-0.24-0.43-0.22-1.16-0.750.730.34
2022-0896.70.00-0.99-0.470.00-0.48-1.72-0.780.990.12
2022-0798.10.17-1.09-0.440.43-1.06-0.62-0.430.510.29
2022-06102.40.90-0.300.110.92-1.370.150.150.110.18
2022-05104.11.110.550.140.92-1.530.420.53-0.470.36
2022-04105.10.990.550.511.21-0.74-1.150.95-0.050.15
2022-03105.20.72-0.010.411.28-0.35-2.001.340.280.63
2022-02109.30.820.190.741.420.39-1.582.101.150.83
2022-01111.31.010.840.191.14-0.28-0.632.432.051.51
2021-12111.70.931.11-0.290.43-0.340.632.651.971.99
2021-11110.00.440.90-0.470.35-0.75-0.013.002.151.73
2021-10110.70.410.71-0.030.50-0.460.263.002.111.72
2021-09109.30.510.901.170.92-2.060.141.922.651.94
2021-08110.21.000.991.580.28-2.821.761.322.753.00
2021-07111.31.511.872.30-0.21-3.001.390.983.003.00
2021-06113.01.651.631.62-0.99-1.081.261.583.003.00
2021-05112.71.812.081.80-1.491.020.310.863.002.20
2021-04108.11.180.611.14-2.132.731.630.062.240.98
2021-03105.91.371.201.48-2.133.001.63-0.590.34-0.23
2021-02104.11.260.880.91-0.502.471.86-1.23-0.74-0.34
2021-01105.11.841.950.770.072.220.74-1.42-1.04-0.55
2020-12105.21.722.030.880.711.831.04-1.54-1.00-0.65
2020-11103.71.862.511.78-0.572.821.06-2.40-1.51-1.17
2020-10101.71.012.393.000.073.001.71-3.00-1.70-1.85
2020-09104.00.902.473.001.563.001.60-2.11-1.94-2.58
2020-0898.5-1.00-0.352.831.703.001.67-1.14-2.30-3.00
2020-0786.1-2.65-3.00-1.770.640.55-0.48-0.00-3.00-3.00
2020-0674.9-3.00-3.00-3.00-3.00-3.00-0.98-1.17-3.00-3.00
2020-0576.0-3.00-3.00-3.00-2.77-3.00-1.85-0.62-3.00-2.57
2020-0479.4-3.00-3.00-3.00-1.92-3.000.06-0.53-2.49-1.44
2020-0388.9-2.23-1.29-0.700.43-2.76-0.62-0.41-0.22-0.86
2020-0290.3-1.91-0.53-0.130.07-1.20-0.68-1.05-0.09-1.09
2020-0188.8-2.10-0.78-0.55-0.21-0.56-1.06-1.07-0.77-1.24
2019-1290.5-1.55-0.65-0.73-0.430.02-0.73-0.88-1.68-1.04
2019-1193.1-1.01-0.61-1.18-0.21-0.460.37-0.47-1.85-0.34
2019-1096.7-0.58-0.20-0.90-0.28-0.09-0.240.46-2.110.14
2019-0997.1-0.76-0.42-0.71-0.640.030.900.54-2.100.57
2019-0896.6-1.21-0.60-0.420.000.990.060.50-2.110.10
2019-0795.8-1.65-1.11-0.270.990.570.710.25-2.120.11
2019-0694.8-1.79-1.35-0.631.140.48-0.980.49-1.44-0.10
2019-0594.4-1.53-1.48-0.470.14-0.52-0.130.66-1.61-0.10
2019-0495.2-1.02-1.44-0.95-1.35-0.35-0.411.23-1.24-0.07
2019-0398.0-0.64-0.95-0.57-1.28-0.190.131.63-1.580.09
2019-02101.7-0.43-0.39-0.62-0.430.66-1.662.60-1.03-0.10
2019-01101.4-0.470.080.25-0.210.67-2.041.86-0.740.01
2018-12101.3-0.320.380.57-0.500.20-1.451.230.100.01
2018-11100.5-0.110.370.90-1.35-0.80-0.750.770.850.18
2018-10103.10.270.710.90-1.42-1.09-0.131.311.280.14
2018-09104.50.540.920.78-0.85-0.850.031.241.41-0.03
2018-08107.40.851.420.940.07-0.080.320.951.590.32
2018-07107.50.951.320.870.920.41-1.230.601.850.50
2018-06109.70.961.491.211.770.85-2.190.892.150.88
2018-05108.40.741.320.701.771.13-2.430.682.410.68
2018-04108.50.621.350.401.921.51-0.060.152.000.85
2018-03106.40.510.910.030.351.801.080.001.590.81
2018-02106.40.430.880.520.001.812.44-0.221.001.13
2018-01108.50.611.071.290.641.621.900.241.150.84
2017-12109.00.551.451.551.561.411.100.250.841.09
2017-11109.30.841.461.211.701.58-0.180.330.911.17
2017-10105.50.670.980.190.071.38-0.640.230.781.30
2017-09106.21.210.67-0.05-0.071.26-0.440.220.651.26
2017-08106.11.360.430.65-0.210.410.250.360.210.92
2017-07109.01.550.551.730.640.751.130.140.471.07
2017-06107.81.100.402.240.570.452.310.13-0.140.69
2017-05107.80.700.371.780.921.121.850.350.001.00
2017-04106.20.770.391.300.92-0.050.900.70-0.300.57
2017-03106.70.930.381.161.06-0.32-0.140.750.500.86
2017-02106.40.910.301.211.14-0.45-0.080.740.480.60
2017-01105.20.530.270.590.920.620.190.390.390.70
2016-12102.50.160.31-0.450.501.20-0.010.350.23-0.27
2016-11100.40.050.38-1.26-0.350.680.980.24-0.00-0.53
2016-1097.9-0.18-0.00-0.81-0.71-0.050.66-0.06-0.01-0.81
2016-0996.6-0.20-0.030.20-0.85-0.770.14-0.25-0.25-1.13
2016-0895.6-0.28-0.151.02-0.43-0.43-1.81-0.640.13-1.73
2016-0795.0-0.40-0.130.82-0.35-0.27-1.48-0.53-0.23-2.44
2016-0694.1-0.89-0.640.32-0.280.09-0.42-0.670.01-2.27
2016-0591.6-1.25-1.17-0.17-0.99-0.571.26-0.78-0.68-1.93
2016-0491.1-1.26-1.23-0.48-1.21-0.230.27-0.87-0.81-1.22
2016-0391.8-0.54-0.78-0.88-1.140.33-0.38-1.16-1.45-1.52
2016-0292.2-0.31-0.40-1.51-0.280.78-1.49-1.53-1.06-1.73
2016-0193.3-0.23-0.40-1.910.210.62-0.25-1.31-1.17-1.97
2015-1291.8-1.07-1.06-1.840.71-0.370.61-1.13-0.93-1.58
2015-1192.3-1.57-1.25-1.280.85-0.341.89-0.71-1.27-1.64
2015-1091.2-1.91-1.53-0.791.21-0.541.76-0.99-1.11-1.72
2015-0992.8-1.63-0.92-0.810.640.171.56-0.99-0.77-1.30
2015-0893.4-1.11-0.72-1.120.140.42-0.91-0.58-1.08-0.62
2015-0793.5-0.83-0.29-1.41-1.060.37-1.20-0.43-0.82-0.22
2015-0691.9-0.83-0.58-1.54-1.280.10-2.52-0.60-0.62-0.01
2015-0591.2-1.10-0.81-1.50-1.56-1.28-0.09-0.760.25-0.32
2015-0491.0-1.11-1.29-1.56-1.06-2.03-0.21-0.490.46-0.54
2015-0392.9-0.87-1.23-1.30-1.35-3.000.810.270.80-0.81
2015-0296.5-0.50-1.06-0.66-1.63-1.910.020.951.05-0.41
2015-01100.20.00-0.350.24-1.92-0.95-0.341.271.06-0.19
2014-12102.30.20-0.250.50-1.420.39-0.641.110.960.23
2014-11101.70.14-0.180.01-0.500.66-1.130.670.900.09
2014-10101.7-0.40-0.52-0.420.350.63-0.201.050.440.29
2014-09103.4-0.47-0.02-0.290.780.640.451.470.060.31
2014-08104.2-0.320.51-0.240.780.511.361.100.230.45
2014-07104.5-0.050.910.060.780.910.990.76-0.150.44
2014-06104.4-0.001.020.201.060.730.380.84-0.390.19
2014-05106.50.050.781.311.561.470.051.28-1.020.06
2014-04105.0-0.080.351.451.281.150.070.93-0.35-0.16
2014-03104.1-0.12-0.191.430.711.370.660.67-0.370.11
2014-02101.20.20-0.030.34-0.14-0.370.530.33-0.440.36
2014-01104.10.950.880.100.14-0.450.780.29-0.470.75
2013-12104.01.221.560.270.50-0.81-0.06-0.15-0.510.67
2013-11104.00.831.680.680.43-0.060.18-0.16-0.530.54
2013-10100.70.371.280.76-0.43-0.020.01-0.37-0.58-0.14
2013-0997.20.020.70-0.00-1.06-0.300.52-0.69-0.67-0.62
2013-0895.7-0.130.13-0.53-0.92-0.441.09-0.89-0.62-0.99
2013-0795.2-0.32-0.44-0.98-0.35-0.640.98-0.96-0.12-0.84
2013-0697.3-0.13-0.15-0.59-0.14-0.681.47-0.920.46-0.62
2013-0598.80.100.45-0.19-0.350.540.05-1.000.73-0.45
2013-04101.50.361.340.130.140.920.39-0.740.05-0.36
2013-03101.80.141.280.010.642.32-0.65-0.78-0.07-0.37
2013-02100.0-0.190.85-0.322.060.86-0.08-0.86-0.20-1.11
2013-0197.0-0.740.03-0.781.850.89-0.28-1.200.47-1.35
2012-1296.8-0.86-0.24-1.081.49-0.140.82-0.800.50-0.98
2012-1196.3-0.74-0.36-1.30-0.140.160.67-0.630.64-0.26
2012-1097.5-0.16-0.01-1.08-0.78-0.17-0.20-0.480.370.61
2012-0998.10.290.07-0.88-1.35-0.48-1.08-0.270.530.75
2012-08101.00.740.390.05-0.85-0.96-1.500.060.611.10
2012-07100.90.640.350.67-1.28-1.59-0.920.350.251.19
2012-06101.80.500.611.32-0.71-1.40-1.050.420.081.05
2012-05101.40.160.681.34-0.57-0.37-0.750.16-0.180.92
2012-04105.00.351.011.750.920.66-0.49-0.080.370.89
2012-03107.00.681.192.280.991.330.17-0.23-0.061.23
2012-02110.31.131.202.840.571.251.50-0.000.352.07
2012-01109.41.140.822.52-0.711.871.320.28-0.022.33
2011-12106.80.650.281.97-1.211.661.110.280.502.16
2011-11103.90.13-0.011.39-0.711.58-0.230.030.621.95
2011-10103.2-0.110.401.31-0.500.70-0.17-0.201.471.91
2011-09105.60.171.151.320.210.780.45-0.311.662.06
2011-08107.10.492.011.110.000.411.50-0.311.492.30
2011-07108.30.782.270.790.92-0.151.57-0.361.802.24
2011-06109.10.942.080.321.14-0.050.92-0.122.372.39
2011-05109.40.811.420.340.920.27-0.640.643.002.29
2011-04110.50.570.780.950.000.94-0.741.633.002.55
2011-03110.60.400.641.95-1.140.51-0.102.003.002.86