Survey highlights weakness in confidence
A
Manufacturing Technologies Association product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Sep 1, 2005
The latest trends survey from the Manufacturing Technologies Association shows a continuation of trends identified in the previous quarter.
The Q2 2005 trends survey from the Manufacturing Technologies Association shows a continuation of trends identified in the previous quarter.
The key points of the survey, to which there were 92 respondents from across the association, were as follows.
Order intake was 5% higher than in Q1 of the year; this was led by strong growth in the machinery importers section.
The percentage balance for business confidence in Q2 fell slightly to -4%, the first negative balance since Q1 2003.
This was due entirely to the machinery importers section, with the other two sections having marginally positive balances.
Although the main constraint on activity was, as it often is, a lack of orders driven by the current economic situation, a significant minority of the respondents (weighted by turnover) in the machinery importers and equipment suppliers sections reported that they were suffering from a shortage of "skilled labour".
Issues with "raw materials and components" were the second most important constraint for the machinery manufacturers.
Andrew Manly, MTA Director General commented: "While it is encouraging to see orders continuing to grow, the weakness in confidence suggests that our members are less optimistic about prospects for the later part of the year".
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