Fisher Investments Releases Research on US Manufacturing

New report examines output, productivity and employment trends in the sector

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May 23, 2012, 08:01 ET

WOODSIDE, Calif., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ken Fisher's firm released a new research paper about the US's manufacturing sector. Many investors have long feared the decline or death of America's factories. With in-depth analysis, "Fisher Perspective: US Manufacturing in the Spotlight" examines whether these fears are valid.

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As the report explains, investors' main fears are declining American manufacturing output and the loss of jobs to China and other areas where labor costs are lower. The report discusses long-term trends in manufacturing output, employment and productivity in the US, China and the world's other leading manufacturing nations. Based on the data surveyed, Fisher Investments found that the US is still a global manufacturing leader.

One of the report's key findings is that while manufacturing's share of the US economy has fallen over time, manufacturing output as a percentage of the global economy has also fallen. Yet the US and world economies have grown and, as stated in the report, the US remained the world's largest manufacturer (adjusted for inflation) as of 2010. The research piece explains, "The US, like most developed countries, has evolved into a more diversified economy, with a heavy emphasis on services, which account for around 70% of US GDP. This isn't unusual. Throughout history, economies have typically followed the same progression: agrarian to industrial to service."

"Fisher Perspective: US Manufacturing in the Spotlight" is the latest research report from Fisher Investments. Previous reports have covered the potential stock market impact of the US's upcoming presidential and congressional elections, the impact of last year's war in Libya on global energy security, European banks' ability to weather the eurozone's sovereign debt troubles, and other timely topics. The full report can be found at http://www.fi.com/WebAlley/alleyletter.aspx?country=US&alleycode=1Z

About Fisher Investments

Founded in 1979, Fisher Investments is an independent, privately-owned money management firm with tens of billions under management. Fisher Investments maintains two principal business units, Fisher Investments Institutional Group and Fisher Investments Private Client Group, which serve a global client base of diverse investors. Fisher Investments' clients include over 100 large institutions and over 25,000 high net worth individuals. Founder and CEO Ken Fisher has written the Forbes "Portfolio Strategy" column for 27 years, has written 8 books on investing and personal finance (5 of which are national bestsellers), and in 2010 was named by Investment Advisor magazine as one of the 30 most influential industry individuals in the last 30 years (Thirty for Thirty, May 2010).

SOURCE Fisher Investments