1st Quarter 2026 How’s Business, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines quarterly member survey data and public economic benchmarks to assess manufacturing activity and near‑term outlook. Drawing on PMMI’s How’s Business survey alongside ISM PMI and BLS CPI/PPI indicators, the analysis indicates cooling demand and shifts in working capital, with focus areas around demand and backlog, including new orders, quotations and late payments; supply‑chain and tariff impacts; and macro benchmarks and outlook. Emerging patterns generally show elevated payment risk and supply volatility that influence operational planning, and charts highlight comparative quarter‑over‑quarter trends. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Published by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, in April 2026; authored by Jorge Izquierdo, Rebecca Marquez, Andrea Admana, and Grace Lee. Based on PMMI member How’s Business quarterly surveys and the 2026 Q1 Tariffs Quickie Survey, supplemented by secondary analysis of public economic indicators (ISM PMI, BLS CPI and PPI) covering Q2 2025–Q1 2026.
