Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/130708
By the Numbers The Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Q1 2013 Manufacturing Barometer Business Outlook Report released in April found that almost 80 percent of manufacturing executives polled predicted revenue growth in 2013, though they remain cautious about the global economy. As a result, manufacturers lowered their annual growth forecasts by almost a point from 5.2 percent to 4.3 percent compared with Q1 in 2012. 43 percent of U.S. industrial manufacturers said they planned major new investments of capital over the next year, 45% a drop from 53 percent over a year ago. Operational spending also slowed – 71 percent of survey respondents planned increases over the next 12 months, a nine-point reduction from Q4 2012. However, operational spending is expected to grow in the areas of research and development – up 14 points to a high of 52 percent. Thirty-eight percent planned spending to introduce new products 45 % of industrial or services, and 28 percent planned new spending in information manufacturers plan to hire new employees during the next year. Source: The Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Q1 2013 Manufacturing Barometer Business Outlook Report technology. Investment plans for geographic expansion was at a low of 10 percent, down from 18 percent in Q4 2012. Employee confidence In the fourth quarter 2012, 22 percent of manufacturing employees believed job availability was improving, up from 13 percent reported in the third quarter. Additionally, 28 percent of manufacturing workers believe the economy is getting stronger, up 6 percent from Q3. However, overall confidence in the future of their employers slipped from 64 percent to 59 percent. The results were based on an online survey of 152 U.S. manufacturing workers. Source: Randstad's Manufacturing Employee Confidence Index 14 | / insight on manufacturing • May 2013 Source: The Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Q1 2013 Manufacturing Barometer Business Outlook Report View of the U.S. economy, next 12 months More than half of industrial manufacturers are optimistic about the economy 100% Optimistic Uncertain Pessimistic 80% 37 48 55 45 40 5 1Q '13 52 60% 70 40% 54 41 20% 0% 27 3 1Q '12 7 9 7 2Q '12 3Q '12 4Q '12 Source: The Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Q1 2013 Manufacturing Barometer Business Outlook Report w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g .c o m