A funny thing happened on the way to a recession. Data keeps getting in the way, at least in certain markets that the mass media don’t pay a lot of attention to. Case in point: January trend data by the Power Transmission Distributors Association shows an uptick in sales for the month in the U.S. and Canada.

So while broad-based needles continue to point down, it’s important to keep the market niches, customer segments and top ten customers that define the long-term health of your business front and center in your perspective.

The MDM Survey on the Economy in this issue offers a few interesting indicators within wholesale distribution. Nearly a quarter of those who responded are planning an acquisition in the next six months. More than a third expect to have …