Revenue

While economic conditions for the manufacturing and services sectors are mixed, both are expected to see growth in 2026, at different paces, according to the new edition of the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Supply Chain Planning Forecast.

First quarter revenue growth expectations were described as steady in the report, with an average forecast of 2%, while positive revenue sentiment hit 72%, its highest level since the second quarter 2025, following a 69% projection, for the fourth quarter, in the report’s previous edition.

For manufacturing, ISM reported that 2025 revenue is expected to rise 0.1%, coming in 4.1% below its previous forecast, made in December, at 4.2%. ISM member panelists reported that they expect 2025 revenues to be flat, coming in 3.9% below the December forecast.

The new edition of the BlueGrace Logistics Confidence Index, for the second quarter of 2025, which was recently issued by Tampa, Fla.-based, non-asset-based 3PL BlueGrace Logistics, signaled positive momentum for both order volume expectations and revenue expectations, for the second quarter.

Looking at fourth quarter revenue expectations, the report observed that 66% of respondents are calling for positive revenue growth, topping the first and second quarters, at 65%, respectively, and trailing the third quarter, at 70%.

For revenues, the report viewed third quarter expectations as “an interesting paradox with shipper optimism on the rise, but the expected magnitude of growth has moderated greatly, with 70% of the report’s respondents expecting positive third quarter revenue growth, topping expectations for the first and second quarters, which each respectively came in at 65%.

The new edition of the BlueGrace Logistics Confidence Index, which was recently issued by Tampa, Fla.-based non-asset-based 3PL BlueGrace Logistics, pointed to a relatively cautious outlook, as it relates to revenues and inventory management, among other factors.

The new edition of the BlueGrace Logistics Confidence Index, which was recently released by Tampa, Fla.-based non-asset-based 3PL BlueGrace Logistics, pointed to variation across some key metrics, including revenue, inventory levels, and order levels, with a forward-looking slant.

TIA officials observed that the drop in margin percent is something that has not previously occurred on the approach to recession.