On the surface, the numbers look contradictory, but the reasons they behaved as they did can tell us something about the tariff-era economy.

The funding aims to cut the cost of cleaner manufacturing in industries like food, paper and chemicals.

Economist say the rise in high-tech manufacturing — of things like semiconductors and circuit boards — in the U.S. bolsters national security.

Recent numbers suggest this economy is increasingly shrugging its shoulders at the pandemic.