Metalformers Expect Slightly Better Business Conditions Sep 19, 2012

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Metalforming companies, overall, expect a slight increase in business conditions over the next three months, according to the September 2012 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report.

Economic activity:
* 24% of metalforming company participants expect economic activity to improve over the next three months, up from 23% in August
* 51% expect activity will remain unchanged, up from 46% in the August report
* 25% expect activity will decline, from 31% in the August report

"After several months of flat or modestly negative expectations for new orders and shipments, PMA's manufacturing member companies have moved to a slightly more positive outlook as Q-3 draws to a close," said William E. Gaskin, PMA president. "During the first four or five months of 2012, the average metalforming company reported that orders and shipments, year-over-year, were growing at the rate of approximately 10% and 12%, respectively, compared to 2011. During the summer, modest contraction in orders and shipments in many sectors (excluding automotive) reduced growth to approximately 8% year-over-year. With significant economic uncertainty being exacerbated by the upcoming presidential elections, it is expected that the balance of 2012 will continue to show single-digit growth compared to 2011, as we look ahead to Q-4."

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