Survey reveals confidence in economy for 2015 among midsized industrial U.S. manufacturers

Prime Advantage, a Chicago-based buying consortium for midsized manufacturers, has announced the findings of its seventh edition of the "Group CFO Survey," revealing the financial projections and top economic concerns of industrial manufacturing companies. The results show continued optimism in the economy and positive growth expectations in several industries.

Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents are working on new products and services, while 44 percent are increasing their R&D efforts in 2015. Ninety-three percent of financial executives are expecting their industry to grow or remain constant in 2015—a slight drop from 2014.

The focus of capital expenditures in 2015 is heavily weighted towards equipment, with 96 percent of member companies looking to invest in this area. This is a 10-point jump from 2014.

The effect of rising health care costs has created a new initiative to implement preventive health care programs at many midsized manufacturers. Fifty-five percent of member companies are taking this preemptive measure, up from 39 percent last year.

Finally, as the fiscal landscape worsens in the EU, concerns over U.S. economic conditions have diminished. The number of members anxious over the U.S. budget deficit and government effectiveness has dropped more than 30 percent from previous surveys.

To request a copy of the survey, visit www.primeadvantage.com/surveys/.