Right out the of the gate the PMPA Business Trends Index shows a 46% gain over December shipments, the highest percentage increase for a January to December.

PMPA’s Business Trends Index of Shipments for January 2013 streaked to 127, the highest January ever, and up 46% over December 2012’s 87.

This bodes well ffor a strong year for precision machining in 2013.

Best January over December Increase in shipments...
Best January over December increase in shipments…

My biggest fear is that shops in our industry will continue to manage as if it were 2009 and not be ready to take advantage of the upside opportunities that we are already seeing in 2013.