Economy
Metalformers Expect A Minor Downturn in Business Conditions
Written by Sandy Williams
June 1, 2016
The metalforming industry is expecting a slight dip in business conditions in the next three months according to the May 2016 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report.
The May report, sampling 114 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada, indicated companies are expecting incoming order levels to remain unchanged during the next few months. Shipping levels in May were reported as trending downward.
Metalforming companies reporting a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff fell to 15 percent in May, from 16 percent in April. In May 2015 only 9 percent of companies reported workers on short time or layoff.
“PMA’s May Business Conditions Report reflects a typical cyclical pattern, as the report’s 3-month horizon (May through July) reflects a slowdown, which is typical for some manufacturing operations,” according to William E. Gaskin, PMA president. “That said, PMA’s separate Monthly Orders & Shipments Report for January through April 2016 reflects a 12% decline in orders booked in April vs. March, and a 7% decline in shipments for the same period. Automotive, medical equipment, building products and aerospace markets continue to be among the stronger segments supplied by the metalforming industry. There is growing concern among PMA members over sharp increases in steel prices in the United States following imposition of substantial antidumping duties on imports of flat-rolled steel from China and other low-cost producers. This may result in increased offshoring of metal parts, assemblies and products where flat-rolled metal is a substantial component of the final cost.”
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy
Chicago Business Barometer rises in January
Despite the gain, the index remains below both the levels of November 2024 and the 2024 average.
CSPA asks Canadian government to work against potential tariffs
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has urged Canada to engage with the US administration to avoid the tariffs threatened by the Trump administration by Feb. 1. “The imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods will have an incredibly disruptive impact on our integrated North American supply chains and on our workers and their families,” François […]
Trump reverses course on Colombia tariffs
The Trump administration has backed off tariffs on Colombia after the White House said the leader of the Latin American nation agreed to President Trump’s demands. “The Government of Colombia has agreed to President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States… without limitation or delay,” according […]
Price: New administration sets roadmap for trade, manufacturing
Day One of the second Trump administration did not bring tariffs, but it did signal that tariffs, and other major trade actions, are not far off.
Architecture firm billings fell in December on market uncertainty
Architecture firms reported a sharp reduction in billings in December, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.