According to the May 2014 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies anticipate little change in business conditions during the next three months. The report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 131 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The May report shows that 33% of participants predict that economic activity will improve during the next three months, 60% expect that activity will remain unchanged and 7% believe that economic activity will decline. Metalforming companies also forecast little change in incoming orders during the next three months, with 43% predicting an increase in orders, 43% expecting no change and 14% predicting a decrease in orders. “PMA’s manufacturing members are very positive about current business conditions, with 45% reporting that shipment activity is up versus one year ago, 34% reporting unchanged shipping levels and 21% reporting shipping levels below one year ago (among the lowest percentage in the past two years)”, said William E. Gaskin, PMA president.
