Precision Metalforming Association (PMA ) reports metalforming companies are expecting substantial improvement in orders and business over the next three months, according to the PMA Business Conditions Report conducted in January.
With 172 metalforming companies throughout the United States and Canada participating, the report is a financial indicator for the industry.
Twenty-seven percent of participants of the Business conditions Report said they expect the economic activity to improve over the next three months, (up from 19% in December). Also expected to increase the number of orders, 42 percent predict an increase over the next three months (up from 29% in December).
“PMA’s orders and shipments data for 2006 indicates that many metalforming companies experienced a fairly strong year, at least until the fourth quarter when automotive, construction and truck-related customers began to scale back orders,” said William E. Gaskin, PMA President.
Daily shipping levels remain steady over the past three months according to January's report along with a slight decrease from December for employees on short time or lay-off. Conditions look promising for 2007 and the second half of the year is projected to show growth.
Gaskin said, "PMA members predicted that the first three to six months of 2007 would be flat or show only modest increases in shipments, but there clearly was an expectation that orders would grow in the second half of the year. This appears consistent with general economic forecasts that project a slow start to 2007, but then overall GDP growth of 2.3 to 2.8 percent for the full year.”
View complete release at: http://www.newequipment.com/media/Company/BusinessConditi_00000000121.pdf
Full report results view the link above: www.pma.org
SOURCE Precision Metalforming Association
Contact: Christie Carmigiano
Precision Metalforming Association
ccarmigiano@pma.org
Nicole Camiola
New Equipment Digest
Online Content Editor