NAM Releases Q1 2026 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Q1 2026 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey shows optimism among manufacturers is rising, with 75.3 percent reporting a pos- itive outlook for their company, up 5.4 percentage points from the previous quarter. For the first time since 2023, manufacturers’ outlook topped the historical average of 74.3 percent, and man- ufacturers expect most indices to improve meaningfully over the next 12 months. Sales and production are pro- jected to rise 3.8 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, up from the previous quarter’s forecast of 2.8 percent and 2.4 percent growth. The NAM conducted the survey over a 16-day period in February 2026. Additional findings include: • 70.6 percent of manufacturers cited trade uncertainties as a top business challenge for the fifth consecutive quarter. • For the second consecutive quarter, rising health care/ insurance costs (69.8 percent) remained the second most-cited business challenge for manufacturers. • Raw material and other input costs are not anticipated to slow, rising at the same pace as projected in Q4 (4.1 percent) and ranking as the third-highest business con- cern at 57.5 percent.
• A majority of manufacturers (54.6 percent) report they utilize either Canada or Mexico for critical parts of their supply chains—82.2 percent of those manufacturers say they source raw materials or other inputs from ei- ther country, while 62.7 percent benefit from a strong customer base across the border. AF&PA Warns Of Cost Impact Of EPR On Consumer Goods In U.S. As more U.S. states move toward extended producer re- sponsibility (EPR) legislation, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is cautioning that the policy could lead to higher costs for everyday consumer goods. AF&PA notes that shifting these costs upstream to pro- ducers may eventually influence pricing across a wide range of consumer goods. Paper packaging remains es- sential in daily life—from corrugated shipping containers to food cartons, pharmacy bags, and tissue products—and added fees have a way of moving through the supply chain into retail pricing. Those added costs are like a hidden tax on everyday essentials, with the greatest impact often felt by working families. AF&PA also points out that paper is already one of the most widely recycled materials in the U.S., raising ques- tions about how much additional benefit EPR policies would bring to an already established recycling stream.
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18 April 13, 2026
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