Heat Treat Today has gathered the four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators for May 2025. While April showed a mixed bag of growth and contraction, May sees three out of four areas indicating growth.
May’s industry-specific economic indicators continued to show growth in three of the four indices while one has slipped farther into contraction. The Inquiries and Bookings indices show a sharp turn toward growth, with Inquires rising to 59 (from 49 in April) and Bookings rising to 57.7 (from 52 in April), while the Backlog index hovers at a relatively steady 52.2.
The Health of the Manufacturing Economy index entered contraction in April, and has continued in its decline, dropping from 47.2 in April down to 42.9 in May. Tariffs are now in effect which may begin to impact the economic index.
Despite the decline in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy Index, the graphs overall suggest that the 4-month slowdown in the North American thermal processing industry (that began in roughly December 2024), is beginning to see a turn-around.
The results from this month’s survey (May) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:
- Anticipated change in Number of Inquiries from April to May: 59.0
- Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from April to May: 57.5
- Anticipated change in Size of Backlog from April to May: 52.2
- Anticipated change in Health of the Manufacturing Economy from April to May: 42.9
Data for May 2025
The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website.
Heat Treat Today’s Economic Indicators measure and report on four heat treat industry indices. Each month, approximately 800 individuals who classify themselves as suppliers to the North American heat treat industry receive the survey. Above are the results. Data started being collected in June 2023. If you would like to participate in the monthly survey, please click here to subscribe.
