CLEVELAND, OH—June 23, 2026—Metalforming manufacturers expect economic activity to remain mostly stable over the next three months, though expectations have cooled slightly, according to the June 2026 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. Prepared monthly, PMA’s report provides an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing, sampling 90 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada.
PMA’s June report shows that 62% of manufacturers surveyed expect no change in general economic activity in the next three months (compared to 64% in May), 24% predict an increase in activity (down from 26% last month) and 14% forecast a decrease in activity (compared to 10% in May).
Metalformers experienced little change in shipping levels in June, with 44% of those surveyed reporting no change in average daily shipping levels (compared to 47% in May), 42% reporting an increase (down from 45% in May) and 14% reporting a decrease (compared to 8% last month).
The June report also shows a decline in expectations for incoming orders over the next three months, with 45% of survey respondents expecting no change in orders (down from 55% in May), 35% predicting an increase in orders (the same percentage reported in May) and 20% forecasting a decrease in orders (up from 10% in May).
In addition, the survey reveals that only 1% of respondents had workers on short time or layoff in June, the same percentage reported in May, while 54% are currently expanding their workforce (up from 48% last month). Twenty-four percent of respondents reported longer lead times in June (compared to 21% the previous month), marking the fourth consecutive month of increases.
“Although we’re seeing some moderation in key indicators such as orders and shipping, most manufacturers report stable conditions and are continuing to expand their workforce, underscoring the sector’s underlying resilience,” said PMA managing director Mark Getsay. “A more stable trade environment, including extending or securing a new USMCA agreement, would help ease uncertainty and support stronger demand as manufacturers navigate a period of moderating expectations.”
Full report results are available at https://surveys.pma.org/public/business_reports/pdf/BCREP.pdf.
PMA is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America—the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its more than 900 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, FABTECH tradeshows and MetalForming magazine.