Manufacturing executives like what they are seeing on their balance sheets, are increasingly confident about the U.S. economy and plan to do more hiring and operational spending in the year ahead, a new survey from PwC US reports.
In its Q4 2014 Manufacturing Barometer, PwC found that 68% of senior manufacturing executives were optimistic about the U.S. economy, up from 57% in the third quarter. Optimism about the global economy also improved, to 38% from 30% in the last quarter.
Manufacturers told PwC they expected to finish 2014 with revenue up an average of 5.2%, a significant boost from a third quarter estimate of 4.6%. Moreover, executives forecast revenue in 2015 to grow by 5.8%. Some 85% expect positive revenue growth over the next 12 months, including with 17% who expect double-digit growth.
Read more on sales up for US manufacturers on IndustryWeek.
IndustryWeek is an NED companion site within Penton's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.