The January 2010 Business Conditions Report from the Precision Metalforming Association, or PMA, shows metalforming companies are increasingly optimistic as the new year kicks off.
Specifically, the January PMA report shows that 45% of participants expect an improvement in economic activity during the next three months—a jump from 28% in December, while 45% predict that activity will remain unchanged, compared to 50% last month. Only 10% report that activity will decline, down from 22% in December.
A majority of metalforming companies also anticipate an uptick in incoming orders during the next three months. Increased orders are expected by 52%, up from 35% in December, with 38% expecting no change—compared to 40% the previous month. Only 10% of respondents predict a decrease in orders, down from 25% in December.
Expectations for current average daily shipping levels remained fairly steady in January, with more than half of responding companies indicating that expectations for shipments remained the same. Thirty-three percent of participants report that shipping levels are above levels of three months ago, down from 37% in December, with 53% reporting no change, compared to 36% in December. Meanwhile, 14% reported that shipping levels are below levels of three months ago, down from 27% in December.
