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MAPI Quarterly U.S. Industrial Outlook: Accelerating Growth Ahead

The report offers economic forecasts for 23 of the 27 industries. MAPI anticipates that 20 industries will show gains in 2014, 2 will remain flat, and just paper production will decline.

Stable consumer-driven spending and a strong forecast for business investment bode well for the manufacturing sector, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation’s U.S. Industrial Outlook, a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries.

Manufacturing industrial production increased at a 2.1 percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2014 while inflation-adjusted GDP declined 1 percent. Manufacturing production grew faster than demand, thereby creating an inventory buildup that was quickly corrected in April.

Manufacturing production increased 2.6 percent in 2013. MAPI forecasts growth of 3.2 percent in 2014 and 4.0 percent in 2015, consistent with the March 2014 report.

“Consumer-driven manufacturing growth will be relatively stable, supported by employment gains and rising wages,” wrote MAPI Chief Economist Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D. “Households have low debt burdens and their wealth is rising because of higher stock and home prices.

“Some growth themes that create an incentive for business investment are expanding energy infrastructure, revival of the housing industry supply chain, investment in manufacturing plants, and strong demand for transportation equipment,” Meckstroth added. “Firms are likely to invest thanks to the certainty of the two-year federal budget and the debt ceiling agreement as well as renewed growth in Europe and Japan.”

The report offers economic forecasts for 23 of the 27 industries. MAPI anticipates that 20 industries will show gains in 2014, 2 will remain flat, and just paper production will decline. Growth leaders include industrial machinery with a 12 percent increase and housing starts at 10 percent.

The outlook improves even more in 2015, with growth likely in all 23 industries, led by housing starts at 37 percent and electric lighting equipment at 12 percent.

According to the report, non-high-tech manufacturing production (which accounts for 95 percent of the total) is anticipated to increase 2.9 percent in 2014 and 3.7 percent in 2015. High-tech industrial production (computers and electronic products) is projected to expand by 6.6 percent in 2014 and 10.0 percent in 2015.

From February through April 2014, 20 of the 27 industries MAPI monitors had inflation-adjusted new orders or production at or above the level of one year prior (six more than reported last quarter), while 4 declined and 3 were flat.

Meckstroth reported that 9 industries are in the accelerating growth (recovery) phase of the business cycle, 12 are in the decelerating growth (expansion) phase, 4 are in the accelerating decline (either early recession or mid-recession) phase, and 2 are in the decelerating decline (late recession or very mild recession) phase.

MAPI Forecast for Manufacturing Production
(Annual percent change)

 

2013

2014

2015

Manufacturing

2.6

3.2

4.0

Computer & Electronic Products

7.0

6.6

10.0

Non-High-Tech Manufacturing

2.3

2.9

3.7

Source(s): MAPI


The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), founded in 1933, contributes to the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by providing economic research, professional development, and an independent, expert source of manufacturing information. www.mapi.net

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