Florida’s manufacturing grades remained the same except for productivity and innovation, according to the latest report on manufacturing and logistics from Ball State University.
The state’s grades for productivity and innovation rose from “D+” to “C.” Remaining the same as last year were manufacturing “D,” logistics “C,” human capital “C,” benefits costs “B,” global positioning “D,” tax climate “A,” diversification “B” and expected fiscal liability gap “B.”
Nationwide, the study found that U.S. manufacturing production grew 11 percent since the dot.com bust (2000-03) and the ensuing economic turbulence of the 2001 and 2007-09 recessions.
“According to folklore, this has been a terrible generation for manufacturing and those who move goods,” said Ball State’s Center for Business & Economic Research director Michael Hicks. “That isn’t really what the data says. Indeed, 2015 was a record manufacturing production year in inflation-adjusted dollars. While 2016 fell just short with some weakness in the first and second quarter, 2017 looks to be a new record year.”