Middle Market Manufacturers Report Solid Growth [SLIDESHOW / VIDEO]

July 28, 2014

Research finds second consecutive quarters of solid revenue growth for U.S. middle market companies, with every industry segment reporting revenue increases -- manufacturers are among the leaders.

Patricia Panchak

The U.S. middle market manufacturing sector reported significant year-over-year growth in the latest Middle Market Indicator, released last week. The results marked the second consecutive quarter of solid revenue growth for middle market firms.

“The unabated growth through the second quarter, coupled with continued economic confidence, strongly suggests that the middle market has put the recessionary period firmly behind it,” the report declared.

Read the full 2Q 2014 Middle Market Indicator report, published by The National Center for the Middle Market, a collaboration between The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and GE Capital.

Each quarter, the Center surveys 1,000 CEOs, CFO and other C-suite executives of U.S. middle market companies on key indicators of past and future performance in revenues, employment, and allocation of cash. It also reports middle market company confidence in the global, U.S., and local economies and identifies key business challenges.

The survey was designed to accurately reflect the nearly 200,000 U.S. businesses with revenues between $10 million and $1 billion, which the Center defines as middle market.

The Center provided IndustryWeek with the manufacturing sector results.

In the following video, Tom Stewart, Executive Director of the Center, shares the latest insights from the Q2 2014 Middle Market Indicator report:

About the Author

Patricia Panchak | Patricia Panchak, Former Editor-in-Chief

Focus: Competitiveness & Public Policy

Call: 216-931-9252

Follow on Twitter: @PPanchakIW

In her commentary and reporting for IndustryWeek, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Panchak covers world-class manufacturing industry strategies, best practices and public policy issues that affect manufacturers’ competitiveness. She delivers news and analysis—and reports the trends--in tax, trade and labor policy; federal, state and local government agencies and programs; and judicial, executive and legislative actions. As well, she shares case studies about how manufacturing executives can capitalize on the latest best practices to cut costs, boost productivity and increase profits.

As editor, she directs the strategic development of all IW editorial products, including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and information products, and executive conferences.

An award-winning editor, Panchak received the 2004 Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Award for Signed Commentary and helped her staff earn the 2004 Neal Award for Subject-Related Series. She also has earned the American Business Media’s Midwest Award for Editorial Courage and Integrity.

Patricia holds bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and English from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She lives in Cleveland Hts., Ohio, with her family.