US Manufacturers’ Optimism Is Rising: Survey

Amid concerns about trade uncertainty, over 54 percent of manufacturers said they source critical inputs from either Canada or Mexico.

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

Optimism among U.S. manufacturers about their companies’ outlook is rising despite persistent business challenges, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said in a March 12 statement.

According to NAM’s Q1 2026 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, 75.3 percent of businesses reported a positive outlook for their company, up by 5.4 percentage points from the previous quarter.