MANUFACTURING DATA REPORTS
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the third straight month, says the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.
The computer and electronic products sector, and the electrical equipment, appliances & components sector, both reported growth.
INDUSTRY NEWS
> Semiconductor industry revenue to hit a staggering $1.3 trillion in 2026.
Read more.
> Molex completes acquisition of U.K.-based Smiths Interconnect. Read more.
> Perhaps you want to praise an employee or coworker, but can’t find the words. Here are 9 simple, but powerful, phrases you can use to appreciate an employee or team member.
INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS
The April 2026 ERA Electronic Components Industry Trend Survey is now in your inbox! Take the survey today.
ERA NEWS
> Missed this week’s ERA LIVE on cybersecurity? We’ve got you covered. All ERA LIVE sessions are recorded and available for replay on ERA’s YouTube channel.
This past Tuesday, Craig Rabe, president of First Class Networks, gave attendees a masterclass on modern digital defense — covering AI-driven scams, recommendations for software, what NOT to put into Claude/Chat GPT/Gemini and simple steps you can take today to protect your business. Watch the session!
> ERA’s SearchLink.ai has a fresh new look and powerful upgrades designed to streamline your workflow and bring more value to your daily sales operations. We’ve integrated several new tools to help you work smarter:
- ERA GPT: Think ChatGPT, but specifically tailored for ERA members.
- The Prompt Writer: A great prompt is the key to a great result.
- Contract Analyzer: Review documents faster than ever.
- Enhanced Search: Our Key Contacts search now features Export functionality, Relevance Score ratings and Find Email buttons directly on the results page.
- Company Search: Now includes full export capabilities.
— Watch the New Tutorial Video
— Access SearchLink.ai and try it for yourself!
> In February 2026 at the national ERA Conference, ERA awarded Life Membership recognition to Carol Cohen (Indiana-Kentucky), George DeVoe (Indiana-Kentucky), John Latimer (Northern California), Mark Conley (Northern California) and Clark Moulthrop (Northern California).
ERA congratulates these five individuals on their Life Member status and recognizes the extraordinary time, talent and effort they have dedicated to ERA and the manufacturers’ rep function within the electronics industry.
CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS
- Carolinas ERA — ERA’s Terrific Tools Virtual Event — Friday, April 17
- New England ERA — Young Professionals Networking Event — Thursday, May 28
- Metro NY ERA — Steve Alford Memorial Golf Outing – Monday, June 22
- Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA — Summerfest Outing — Thursday, June 25
- Pacific-Northwest ERA — Save the Date: Golf Tournament – Friday, Aug. 21
