ITR Economic Report – February 2020

Five of the seven leading indicators that PMPA follows are in either slowing growth or recession mode at the current time. Two of our key market indicators are in accelerating growth.

Looking at the current situation of broad weakness in the markets we serve, it is easy to have a negative outlook. We recall that it is always darkest before the dawn.

This report shares several indicators that foretell positive development in our markets in the coming year.  What happens when our markets do recover? Were you held back in 2018 and 2019 by lack of capacity? Will that be your fate again when the orders return? Put today to highest and best use to prepare for the sales recovery that is indicated. Train your team. Improve your process. Edit your customer list.  Low interest rates suggest that now may be the time to buy what you need to optimize your operations for the higher sales that are just ahead.

The Institute for Trend Research (ITR) quarterly reports focus on major areas of economic growth and decline in key market segments for the Precision Machined Products Industry. They are provided to PMPA members as part of the association’s overall business intelligence program and are used as a management tool to help PMPA members plan for what lies ahead and which markets they should focus on in a complex manufacturing environment.