Strong consumer demand driven by job growth should lead to increased manufacturing production through 2017, according to the most recent Quarterly Economic Forecast released by the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

The MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, released its quarterly economic forecast, predicting that inflation-adjusted gross domestic product will expand 2.9 percent in 2016 and 2.7 percent in 2017, both on par with the August 2015 report. GDP growth for 2018 is anticipated to be 2.5 percent. All estimates are above the anticipated 2.4 percent GDP growth for the U.S. economy in 2015.

During the next few years, manufacturing production is also expected to outpace the forecast of 1.8 percent growth in 2015. Output is anticipated to advance by 2.6 percent in 2016 (down from 3.4 percent in the August report) and 3 percent in 2017, a slight decrease from 3.1 percent in last quarter's analysis. The foundation predicts 2.8 percent growth in 2018.

The November 2015 reports offers a five-year horizon in which GDP is expected to average just under 2.6 percent growth from 2016 to 2020 and manufacturing production to average 2.6 percent growth during that time frame.

"There are strong deflationary pressures that are spreading, such as lower global energy prices, China's economic restructuring, and a forecast for slow price recovery in commodities," said MAPI Foundation Chief Economist Daniel Meckstroth. "Also, we are not anticipating negative shocks such as the harsh winter and California port strikes to repeat themselves in 2016. Strong domestic demand buffers the United States from the rest of the world, where global manufacturing continues to slow.

"We expect a modest acceleration in manufacturing growth over the next two years before it decelerates. Consistently strong job growth is driving the economy. New workers mean more income, which translates into more spending."

Still, Meckstroth sees some challenges. "The strong dollar will reduce GDP growth by 0.7 percent in 2015 and by 0.4 percent in 2016 and 2017, with a negative effect on inventories and net exports," he said.

Production in non-high-tech manufacturing is expected to increase 2.1 percent in 2016, 3 percent in 2017, and 2.6 percent in 2018. High-tech manufacturing production, which accounts for approximately 5 percent of all manufacturing, is anticipated to grow 4.3 percent in 2016, 5.7 percent in 2017, and 5.5 percent in 2018.

The forecast for inflation-adjusted investment in equipment is for growth of 6.6 percent in 2016, 6.2 percent in 2017, and 4.7 percent in 2018. Capital equipment spending in high-tech sectors will also rise. Inflation-adjusted expenditures forinformation processing equipment are anticipated to increase by 7.2 percent in 2016, 7.4 percent in 2017, and 7.3 percent in 2018. The MAPI Foundation expects industrial equipment expenditures to advance 8.3 percent in 2016, 7.9 percent in 2017, and 3.5 percent in 2018. Spending on transportation equipment is forecast to increase 3.9 percent in 2016, 1.1 percent in 2017, and 1.2 percent in 2018.

Spending on nonresidential structures is anticipated to increase by 5.6 percent in 2016 before decelerating to 5.1 percent growth in 2017 and 3.1 percent in 2018. Residential fixed investment is forecast to gain by 10.2 percent in 2016, 9.7 percent in 2017, and 4 percent in 2018. Meckstroth anticipates 1.3 million housing starts in 2016, 1.4 million in 2017, and 1.5 million in 2018.

Inflation-adjusted exports are anticipated to increase 3 percent in 2016, 4 percent in 2017, and 5 percent in 2018. Meanwhile, inflation-adjusted imports are expected to grow 5.6 percent in 2016, 7.5 percent in 2017, and 4.8 percent in 2018. The MAPI Foundation forecasts overall unemployment to average 5 percent in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

The outlook is for an increase of 46,000 manufacturing jobs in 2015, a drop from 124,000 anticipated in the August report. Meckstroth envisions 100,000 manufacturing jobs to be added in 2016, a slight increase from 94,000 in the previous report, and 110,000 to be gained in 2017, a significant advance from 30,000 in the August forecast.

The refiners’ acquisition cost per barrel of imported crude oil is expected to average $45.30 in 2016, $58 in 2017, and $67 in 2018.