MEM industries: well placed for positive development

Sales by the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries (MEM in-dustries) performed very positively during the first half of 2017, increasing by 6.2% year-on-year. A little disappointingly, new orders received fell by 3.4%. Overall, however, the key indicators point to a positive trend for the MEM indus-tries over the coming months: The purchasing managers’ index for the industry promises robust growth almost worldwide. MEM employers’ business expectations are optimistic. And last but not least, the weakening of the Swiss franc against the euro is generating additional momentum and allowing the MEM companies to improve their margins again.