The Business Forecast for 2016

Making hay

Of special importance to all businesses is the performance by one subset of the larger corporate world: Manufacturers. Any growth in that sector has a dramatic effect on employment and thus on the economy in general, since manufacturing is heavily dependent on a skilled labor force.

Again, it seems that manufacturers are looking ahead to a 2016 that will match or excel what has been a reasonably good 2015. “Conditions are positive but are not robust or booming,” says Tom Palisin, Executive Director of The Manufacturers' Association, a York, Pa.,-based regional employers' organization with more than 370 member companies (mascpa.org). “Manufacturers are doing slightly better than they were a year ago. They are reporting low to moderate growth, solid orders, and a good backlog.” Low energy prices are favorable for the sector.

Looking to 2016, Palisin says his members are “cautiously optimistic.” A telling indicator of that optimism is a new initiative to bolster the workforce. “One significant change is a move by many companies to invest more in their training budgets,” says Palisin. Manufacturers are doing so, he says, in response to a number of conditions: An improving economy, several years of cost cutting that has led to a lean work force, and a lack of available skilled talent along with low unemployment. “Employers now seem more eager to retain the employees they have by investing in training of their existing workforce.” That will translate into higher salaries and still more disposable income in consumers’ wallets.

Manufacturers will be helped by a growing availability of credit, which has loosened considerably since the tight years of the great recession. “Rates are low and banks are willing to invest,” says Palisin. “However, there has not been much demand for commercial loans because many companies have sufficient cash on hand to finance their growth needs.” Others, he says, have delayed capital investment due to economic uncertainty and a tough regulatory environment.

Housing rebound

Businesses depend on a healthy economy to support strong sales. And one of the most important drivers of a healthy economy is a robust housing construction sector which employs more people and generates more disposable income.

“The ever-tightening market for new homes will likely spur stronger construction activity in 2016,” says Koropeckyj. Indeed, housing starts are expected to rise 29.5 percent for the year, a considerable improvement over the 14.5 percent figure expected for 2015 when final numbers are tallied. (The rate for 2014 was 5.8 percent).

Why the spike in construction? The nation’s inventory of new homes has been falling steadily, says Koropeckyj, to the point where builders are now expected to perceive solid economic benefits in gearing up into higher production.

The decline in inventory over the past year came about as builders held back from constructing new homes, concerned that consumer demand had not met expectations. That demand, in turn, was soft because, says Koropeckyj, “many young families saddled with mountains of student debt were opting to continue renting.”

Granted, some conditions will have to be met before the housing rebound occurs. “The tightening housing market by itself does not guarantee a resumption of single-family construction,” points out Koropeckyj. “Household debt burdens will still have to fall significantly before the younger families that are potential buyers of new homes start to return to the market in strength. Even so, the U.S. recovery, with some outside help from low gasoline prices and consequently low inflation, is pulling that date forward.”

The expected housing rebound should have a related effect: A moderation in home prices. They are expected to increase by only 2.9 percent in 2016, a deceleration of the 6.3 percent expected for 2015.

Retail growth

Performance in the retail sector is yet another critical driver for the American economy in general. And here, again, economists see an improving picture in 1016. “We expect core retail sales to grow 5.5 percent in 2016,” says Hoyt. (Core retail sales exclude volatile revenues from auto sales and gas stations.)  That’s notably faster than the 4.2 growth rate anticipated when 2015 sales are finally tallied. The 2015 experience was, again, slightly better than that the 3.9 percent growth of 2014.

If Moody’s is accurate in its forecast, businesses can rejoice, as the anticipated rate is not that far off the roughly six percent increases retailers commonly enjoyed during the robust decade of the 1990s, as well as the period they fondly remember just prior to the great recession.

What will drive the anticipated retail sales increase? Primarily higher wages, fueled by the growing number of people gainfully employed.

Dark clouds

Challenges remain. Businesses should keep an eye out for further developments in lingering issues such as the softening of European and Chinese economies, a volatile American stock market, and political gridlock in Washington. “Businesses prefer stability and consistency,” says Palisin. “And right now we have anything but that.”

Even so, signs point to continuing marketplace strength. “We think the economy should weather the current uncertainties,” says Hoyt. He points to improving employment figures as the key. “A lot of our optimism centers on the strength in the labor markets.”

A healthy jobs picture, then, should make all the difference in 2016. “Early in the year businesses should watch what is happening with wages,” says Hoyt. “If the labor market tightens as expected, that will lead to higher wages and more consumer spending.”