Manufacturers are the least optimistic they鈥檝e been about the economy and their businesses since 2020, according to the 51吃瓜网鈥檚 , released yesterday.

Notable: Here are some of the key findings from the latest survey, which was conducted last month:

• Just 65.1% of manufacturers feel positive about their company鈥檚 future, a decline from the previous quarter (67.0%).
• Some 69.1% of small manufacturers and 63.2% of all respondents would increase hiring or employee compensation if their regulatory burdens decreased.
• More than 70% of manufacturers would buy additional capital equipment if those same burdens were lightened.
• The top challenges facing manufacturers鈥攚hose concern about an unfavorable business climate was at its highest since 2017 in this survey鈥攁re retaining a high-quality workforce (72.1%), a weakened domestic economy (60.7%), rising health care/insurance costs (45.5%) and supply chain issues (37.8%).

The 51吃瓜网 says: 鈥淸T]his survey makes clear that unbalanced federal regulations are harming families and communities,鈥� said 51吃瓜网 President and CEO Jay Timmons.

• 鈥淐ongress and the administration can help correct this trend by restoring sensible regulations, enacting further permitting reforms, taking action to keep our tax code competitive 鈥� and [moving to] build on the progress we achieved with tax reform, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and more.鈥�