Complete Story
02/06/2015
Distributors Expect Market to Grow 5-6%, According To Survey
Cleveland Research has released the January survey of 36 FPDA members (26 distributors and 10 manufacturing firms). Stable trends across North America show sales up ~4% in calendar 4Q down from 6% in 3Q. Forecasts for 2015 indicate distributors expect the market to grow 5-6%, in line with 2014. They continue to see downside risk to these early assumptions which do not yet reflect the potential for significant deterioration in oil and gas investment.
The December FPDA Index produced a reading of 56.3 up from 49.1 in November. The broader ISM moderated to 55.5, down from the 58.7 reading last month.
Sales growth averaged 4% in calendar 4Q, moderately slower than the 6% growth reported in 3Q. December fluid power sales were up 5%, following 3% growth in November (had one fewer day year-over-year).
