ITR Economics’ knowledge and accuracy lays the foundation of the information shared in this report, providing the best economic intelligence to reduce risk and drive practical and profitable business decisions for your company. The report explores the economy and growth for the next three years, and how it could impact the packaging and processing industry.
Economic Outlook 2026–2027, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the U.S. and global economic trajectory through 2026–2027 using real‑time indicators, long‑run series, and leading‑indicator forecasts assembled as of April 2026. The analysis indicates a slower, uneven expansion with persistent cost pressures and shifting composition of growth; focus areas include inflation and interest‑rate regimes, labor availability and wage dynamics, and energy and productivity constraints—highlighting implications from data‑center demand to AI adoption and housing misalignment. Charts highlight sector contrasts and benchmark trends across regions, and emerging patterns show margin squeeze despite continued revenue growth. The report reveals where business leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
The 2025–2027 ITR Economic Outlook Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how U.S. and global economic conditions are expected to evolve through 2027, drawing on leading indicators and multi-year trend analysis . The report highlights shifting growth patterns across industrial production, inflation, labor markets, and sector demand, noting emerging pressure points such as rising input costs, tight workforce dynamics, and gradual reconfiguration of supply chains. Visual analyses within the report illustrate how consumer activity, capital investment signals, and global trade flows tend to shape near-term momentum while hinting at longer-term structural vulnerabilities. The report reveals which economic forces may most influence investment, capacity planning, and strategic risk management over the next several years.
This in-depth report analyzes the U.S. and global economic outlook from 2025 to 2027, featuring forecasts on inflation, interest rates, labor market dynamics, and sector-specific trends. Drawing from real-time indicators and long-term data, it also highlights structural vulnerabilities that could culminate in a significant economic disruption by the end of the decade. The insights are based on ITR Economics’ presentation at PMMI’s 2025 Executive Leadership Conference in Georgia.
2024-2025 Economic Insights for Tomorrow, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in July 2024, examines the mid‑2020s economic landscape using ITR Economics forecasts, industry production and trade data, and PMMI market indicators to benchmark near‑term and multi‑year scenarios. Focus areas include workforce strategy and retention amid tight labor markets; inflation, interest‑rate and cash‑flow preparedness; and supply‑chain resilience and regional market divergence. The analysis indicates recurring patterns—services outperforming industrial activity, demographic‑driven regional shifts, and sectoral variance across material handling and paperboard—while charts highlight cyclical inflection points and leading indicators. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
This report delves into the economic outlook for the mid-2020s and outlines strategies for businesses in the packaging and processing industries. It explores how technological advancements and strategic planning can address challenges such as labor shortages and inflation. Additionally, it offers insights into global economic trends and preparation for potential downturns in the 2030s.
Guidance in an Uncertain Economy: Gauging the Risks Going Forward 2023–2024, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines macroeconomic and industry-specific risks across 2023–2024 using ITR Economics forecasts, government data, and PMMI market indicators. The analysis indicates key focus areas—labor and workforce strategy, including development and retention and knowledge capture; operational resilience through automation and digital-tool adoption, such as version control and data governance; and financial and supply-chain health, including cash management and material-cost trends. Emerging patterns show disinflationary pressures, interest-rate sensitivity, and sectoral divergence from food to durable goods, and charts highlight leading-indicator signals versus historical benchmarks. Download the full report to see where manufacturers are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2021 Guidance in an Uncertain Economy — Consumers, CPGs, Economy, and Growth 2022–2025, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market and macroeconomic trajectories from late‑2021 through 2025 using ITR Economics and public leading indicators. Analysis indicates decelerating demand growth and easing commodity pressure, while charts highlight sector-level resilience across segments including paperboard and plastics, and regional variation from North America to Europe. Key focus areas group workforce development, knowledge capture and digital-tool adoption; supply-chain resilience, commodity and paperboard price dynamics; and capital allocation, interest-rate and rates-of-change planning. Emerging patterns show firms tend to accelerate automation and prioritize predictive maintenance. The report reveals where packaging and processing leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2021 Guidance in an Uncertain Economy – Moving Forward into 2021, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines near‑term to multi‑year economic outlooks using leading indicators, industry benchmarks and public economic data to assess implications for packaging and processing companies. The analysis indicates a recovery phase driven by consumer demand and reshoring trends, and highlights focus areas such as supply‑chain resilience and commodity pricing pressures, investment priorities including M&A and automation (including robotics and predictive maintenance), and workforce development with knowledge capture for retention. Charts highlight sector momentum from beverages to pharmaceuticals, and comparative benchmarks generally show stronger U.S. resilience versus many trading partners. The report reveals where industry leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Guidance in an Uncertain Economy – Moving Forward into 2021, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines macroeconomic and sector-level trends from early 2020 through a projected recovery into 2023 using leading indicators, federal and industry sources including ITR benchmarks. The analysis indicates cyclical momentum is shifting positive while monetary policy and debt dynamics suggest prolonged low rates; focus areas include macroeconomic monitoring and policy, operational resilience—automation, reshoring and supply‑chain diligence—and market opportunities in beverage, food and pharmaceuticals. Charts highlight comparative performance across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and analysis shows implications for hiring, cash management and capital allocation. Download the full report to see where companies prioritize investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2020 Economic Impact of COVID-19: Guidance in an Uncertain Economy, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the pandemic’s dual shocks and their implications for packaging and processing across 2020–2022 using leading economic indicators and industry data from public sources and ITR Economics. The analysis highlights focus areas such as demand shifts and sectoral resilience—grocery, beverage and pharmaceutical channels versus food service—supply-chain and near-sourcing strategies, and operational liquidity and capital planning, alongside workforce and service model adaptations including field service and aftermarket. Charts and comparative benchmarks that reference the pre-2009 recession indicate recovery timelines that tend to stagger by sector and geography. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
