US Manufacturers More Optimistic Despite Trade Uncertainties, Health Care Costs: Survey

More than 80 percent of survey respondents reported paying tariffs on imported manufacturing inputs since the beginning of 2025.

President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech at the U.S. Steel Corporation's Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pa., on May 30, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Optimism among American manufacturers rose in the fourth quarter despite concerns about trade uncertainties, surging insurance costs, and other sector-related challenges, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said in a statement on Dec. 17.

NAM conducted its 2025 fourth-quarter outlook survey among 241 small, medium, and large manufacturers, and found “69.9 percent of respondents felt either somewhat or very positive about their company’s outlook, up 4.9 percentage points from Q3 2025.”