Economy

PMA Members Expect Strong Start to 2017

February 1, 2017

The Precision Metalforming Association reports members are expecting strong business conditions through the first quarter of 2017.

The Business Conditions Report for January sampled 115 metalforming companies in the U.S. and Canada. The report showed 48 percent of participants expect business activity to improve in the next three months, compared to 43 percent in December’s survey. Orders are expected to be robust during the period.

Current average daily shipping levels were considered steady in January and about the same as three months ago.

Only 10 percent of companies reported workers on short time or layoff in January, down from 11 percent in December and 12 percent in January 2016.

“The metalforming industry’s optimistic view of the economy rose for the second consecutive month since the election, with 48% of respondents expecting an upward move,” said William E. Gaskin, PMA president. “The largest shift was an 11% shift in expectations from “same” to “up” in their outlook, and only 8% expect a decline. Expectations for incoming orders also spiked, reaching the highest level in several years. President Trump’s meeting at the White House on the first business day (January 23, 2017) of his administration sent a strong message that he will focus on manufacturing as a key element of job growth and economic strength to create economic security and a brighter future for America. Key issues discussed included tax reform, including a mechanism to incentivize repatriation of offshore profits, a dramatic reduction in the overall regulatory burden for manufacturing, and tax reform to boost capital investment and lower overall rates for all manufacturers.”