Shows That More Than 30% of Industrial Buyers Cited an Increase in New Orders in 2003
New York, March 9, 2004 - Thomas Industrial Network, powered by Thomas Register® and Thomas Regional®, today announced the results of the February Industrial Purchasing Barometer (IPB) Survey, revealing that 82% of industrial buyers are either cautiously proceeding or back to business as usual with regard to purchasing in the current economic environment. Additionally, over thirty percent of industrial buyers stated that their company's biggest business increases came from new orders in 2003. The IPB survey was conducted randomly among Thomas' pool of over one million opt-in online users. Survey respondents represent manufacturing and engineering segments, as well as wholesale trade, distribution, service providers and government agencies.
The survey revealed attitudes towards purchasing in the current economic environment: · "Cautiously proceeding 60%· "Back to business as usual" 22% · "Wait and see" 12%· "Not letting anything get in my way" 4%· Other 2% Additionally, the survey showed some bright spots during 2003, as industrial buyers reported specific areas in which their companies had seen business increases: · New Orders 31%· Profit Levels 27% · Inventory Levels 23% · Shipments 10%· Employment Levels 9%"Thomas' IPB survey results often show that industrial buyers are optimistic, even in the face of challenging economic times," said Eileen Markowitz, President, Thomas Industrial Network.
"Our latest survey shows purchasers' optimism translating into proactive behavior as buyers report increases in new orders, profit levels, and inventory levels at their companies." About Thomas Industrial Network, Inc. Thomas Industrial Network is a leading provider of Internet sourcing and marketing solutions for industrial buyers and suppliers. ThomasNet.com, powered by Thomas Register of American Manufacturers and Thomas Regional Directory, offers a comprehensive online resource for industry, including detailed product information, company information and computer-aided design (CAD) drawings.
Additional information is available at www.ThomasNet.com .
