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by David R. Brousell, MA Editorial Staff Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 12:28:47 PM   | Abstract: | A survey of other recent surveys reveals some mixed messages about the way manufacturers and economists are feeling about the years ahead. |
Two other surveys of the manufacturing market conducted this past fall offer insights into areas the MA poll does not track, such as gross domestic product (GDP) trends, and show some marked differences with regard to confidence levels in the U.S. economy. In a five-year forecast, the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a non-profit economic policy and research firm, said it expects inflation-adjusted GDP growth to slow to 2.5% in 2007, from 3.3% in 2006. Somewhat in contrast, the PricewaterhouseCoopers third quarter 2006 Manufacturing Barometer showed that 70% of survey respondents are optimistic about the economy's prospects in the next 12 months. The Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI study predicts that inflation-adjusted GDP growth will rebound to 3.3% in 2008. But the study also shows that manufacturing production growth will undergo a dramatic change in 2007, falling to 2.6% growth from 4.8% in 2006. The research firm noted, however, that it expects industrial production to increase 3.4% in 2008. [Click to continue] |