Economy

PMA Indicates Improved Activity for Q4+

November 14, 2013

Metalforming companies expect improved business activity for the next three months after expressing pessimism in October. The November 2013 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report showed an uptick in the number of survey respondents who anticipate improvement in business conditions as well as improvement in new orders.

Average daily shipping levels were above levels of three months ago. The number of metalforming companies reporting workers on short time or lay off increased to 13 percent from 11 percent in October. At this time last year 17 percent of metalformers reported workers on short time or layoff.

“Metalforming companies are generally anticipating that orders and shipments for year-end 2013 and early 2014 will continue to reflect flat to modestly higher levels of activity, compared to today’s levels,” said William E. Gaskin, PMA president. “The automotive market continues to be the most consistent performer in 2013.”