David Huether, chief economist at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has joined the new Board of Economists for the Associated Press (AP), the world’s largest news organization. Huether will contribute forecasts and opinions about U.S. economic trends and policies through quarterly surveys and interviews that focus on financial and industry trends and policies affecting consumers around the world. The AP will release the first quarterly survey on April 12.
“David’s in-depth knowledge of manufacturing and its pivotal role in the U.S. economy will be a valuable asset to this new group of economists,” said NAM president John Engler. “He brings a unique perspective gained from years of experience being in close touch with manufacturers and analyzing the issues and trends that impact the $1.6 trillion manufacturing economy.”
“I am honored to serve on the AP board and look forward to offering insights about economic trends that impact America’s industrial base and its ability to contribute to job creation and global competitiveness,” said Huether.
U.S. manufacturing comprises almost 12 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, producing 21 percent of global manufactured products. Japan is second at 13 percent and China is third at 12 percent. Nearly 12 million Americans work directly in manufacturing – about 10 percent of the overall workforce.
The new AP board is comprised of 50 leading economists from industry groups, banks and academia who will offer their opinions about key economic indicators such as GDP, employment, inflation and interest rates. The AP business news staff will use these findings to report about the economic outlook for the quarter and the year ahead and to drill into areas of special importance, including employment, exports and productivity. The inaugural AP Economic Survey on April 12 will focus on widespread concern about the recovery and significant stresses on the economy in 2010 and 2011.
David Huether is the NAM’s economic forecaster and spokesperson on economic issues. Before joining the NAM in 1997, he worked as an economist with the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce. David received his undergraduate degree from Guilford College (North Carolina) in 1990 and his graduate degree in economics from George Washington University in 1997.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information, visit www.nam.org.