Slowing of U.S. Economy Leads to Decrease in Domestic Optimism, Says PricewaterhouseCoopers

Survey respondents also expect to increase hiring for 2007, with 46 percent planning to add net employees to their workforce over the next 12 months. This is a 13-point rise from the previous quarter, when only 33 percent of manufacturers planned to add workers.

Despite the increase in hiring plans and major new investments, a slower growth rate is projected for the year-end of 2007 in the manufacturing industry, off notably from an average of 4.4 percent in the prior quarter to 3.1 percent. In addition, own-company revenue projections for 2007 over 2006 fell from 6.5 percent in the prior quarter to 5.5 percent in the first quarter.