1、NAM MANUFACTURERS OUTLOOK SURVEY FIRST QUARTER 2026 March 12,2026 By Victoria Bloom and Michael Green Percentage of Respondents Positive About Their Own Companys Outlook 75.3%(Q4:69.9%)Small Manufacturers:70.5%Medium-Sized Manufacturers:79.0%Large Manufacturers:73.0%Overall Facts About the Survey Nu
2、mber of Responses:240 In the Field:Feb.1026,2026 Small Manufacturers:44 responses(18.3%)Medium-Sized Manufacturers:100 responses(41.7%)Large Manufacturers:89 responses(37.1%)Undisclosed:7(2.9%)Expected Growth Rate for SALES Over the Next 12 Months 3.8%(Q4:2.8%)Expected Growth Rate for PRODUCTION Ove
3、r the Next 12 Months 3.5%(Q4:2.4%)Expected Growth Rate for FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT Over the Next 12 Months 1.3%(Q4:1.0%)Expected Growth Rate for EMPLOYEE WAGES Over the Next 12 Months 2.7%(Q4:2.7%)Expected Growth Rate for CAPITAL INVESTMENTS Over the Next 12 Months 1.7%(Q4:1.4%)Expected Growth Rate for
4、 EXPORTS Over the Next 12 Months 0.1%(Q4:0.1%)Expected Growth Rate for PRICES OF COMPANYS PRODUCTS Over the Next 12 Months 3.1%(Q4:3.0%)Expected Growth Rate for RAW MATERIAL PRICES AND OTHER INPUT COSTS Over the Next 12 Months 4.1%(Q4:4.1%)Expected Growth Rate for INVENTORIES Over the Next 12 Months
5、 0.3%(Q4:0.2%)Summary of Findings Manufacturing sentiment improves from the previous quarter.The NAM conducted the Q1 2026 Manufacturers Outlook Survey Feb.1026,2026.In Q1,75.3%of respondents felt either somewhat or very positive about their companys outlook,up 5.4 percentage points from Q4 2025(Fig
6、ures 1 and 2)and back above the historical average for the first time since Q1 2023.The average sentiment over the past four quarters is 66.4%.Trade uncertainties and rising health care costs are at the top of manufacturers business concerns.In Q1,70.6%of manufacturers cited trade uncertainties as t