Stable consumer-driven spending and a strong forecast for business investment bode well for the manufacturing sector, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation’s U.S. Industrial Outlook, a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries.
Manufacturing industrial production increased at a 2.1% annual rate during the first quarter of 2014 while inflation-adjusted GDP declined 1%. Manufacturing production grew faster than demand, thereby creating an inventory buildup that was quickly corrected in April.
Manufacturing production increased 2.6% in 2013. MAPI forecasts growth of 3.2% in 2014 and 4.0% in 2015, consistent with the March 2014 report.
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