Metalforming manufacturers’ predictions about business activity showed little change over the previous month, according to the latest Business Conditions Report from the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).

A sampling of survey responses from 97 metalforming companies in the U.S. and Canada — which collectively serve as an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing — found that:

• 60% of the metalforming companies expect no change in general economic activity in the next three months (compared to 61% in February)
• 24% anticipate an increase in activity (slightly up from 23% last month)
• 16% predict a decrease in activity (not changes from last month).

Metalformers also forecast little change in incoming orders for the next three months:

• 39% of survey respondents expecting an increase in orders during the next three months (compared to 40% in February)
• 45% predict no change in orders (compared to 48% in February)
• 16% anticipate a decrease in orders (an increase from 12% last month)

Current average daily shipping levels dipped in March after spiking in February:

• 24% reported an increase in shipping levels (compared to 31% in February)
• 44% reported no change (compared to 39% in February)
• 32% reporting a decrease in levels (up from 30% last month)

Lead times also remained steady:

• 6% of metalforming companies reported an increase in lead times in March (compared to 7% in February)
• 7% of companies had a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff in March (compared to 6% in February)
• 36% of companies are currently expanding their workforce (a decrease from 44% in February)