According to the “Precision Metalforming Association Business Conditions Report” (September 2015 edition), North American metalforming companies forecast a slight downturn in business conditions during the next three months. Prepared monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 127 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The September report shows a dip in economic activity, with only 21% of participants predicting that activity will improve in the next three months (down from 26% in August), 55% expecting no change (compared to 59% last month) and 24% believing that economic activity will decline (up from 15% in August). Metalforming companies also forecast a slight decrease in current average daily shipping levels. Twenty-six percent of participants report that shipping levels are above levels of three months ago (compared to 28% in August), 43% report that levels are the same as three months ago (down from 44% last month) and 31% report a decrease in shipping levels (compared to 28% in August). However, metalformers expect a slight uptick in incoming orders during the next three months, with 36% anticipating an increase in orders (up from 33% in August), 42% predicting no change (compared to 45% in August) and 22% expecting a decrease in orders (the same percentage reported last month).
