Mclean, Va. (February 20, 2026) — After a significant pullback in economic output at the end of 2025, gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded nearly back to trend growth in the first quarter of 2026, according to the first estimate published today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
“The standout in the GDP report today was the large increase in private investment in equipment, some of which is attributed to the remarkable performance in manufacturing technology orders seen so far in 2026,” said Christopher Chidzik, principal economist of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
“Consumer spending on durable goods was flat as measures of consumer sentiment painted an apprehensive picture amid another bout of supply-driven price shocks. Continued investment in AI infrastructure, along with the new need to increase defense production to rapidly restock depleted inventories, will continue to prop up the floor of demand for manufacturing technology for the remainder of the year, and any pickup in consumer activity could spur additional investments.”
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