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MAFSI Business Barometer Posts 4.9 Percent Second-Quarter Increase

Strong quarter, but overall growth still in the moderate range

Moderate growth was once again the storyline in the latest sales data from the Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. Sales increased 4.9 percent in the second quarter of 2016 vs. 4.8 percent the first quarter, according to the MAFSI Business Barometer. While the 7-year moderate-growth trend may not sound too exciting, second quarter growth did exceed the originally forecasted 4.6 percent gain.

Equipment led sales growth by product type with a 5.1 percent change, followed by tabletop (5.0 percent growth); supply (4.2 percent growth) and furniture (3.5 percent growth).

Reps report a slowing in “quoting activity” to 48 percent and forecast slightly less robust growth for the third quarter — 4.2 percent.

In regional data, tabletop in the West jumped out as the highest sales percentage change by region with 7.1 percent growth. The lowest percentage regional change was in the Northeast, wth furniture coming in at -1.8 percent change.