Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of more than 500 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. Here is a summary of third-quarter results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013.
The results of the third-quarter 2012 MDM/Baird Distribution Survey represent lowered expectations compared with past results. According to the survey, third-quarter revenues were up 4.1 percent overall for respondents, lower than the expected 5.5 percent growth.
Respondents expect revenues to grow 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter 2012 and 3.6 percent in 2013. The annual forecast is …
