According to results from the winter 2012 McGladrey Manufacturing and Distribution Monitor - a survey of middle-market manufacturing and distribution executives, which provides a unique look into the state of manufacturing on "Main Street" – the number of executives who are optimistic about the U.S. economy is 146% greater now than it was a few short months ago in the fall of 2011.

"While the resurgence of American manufacturing has recently become a hot topic across the country, the story has largely focused on large, household-name companies who have generally expressed optimism about the direction of the economy in recent weeks," said Karen Kurek, national manufacturing leader for McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, which operates under the McGladrey brand. "But the manufacturing sector's overall health can't be assessed without a close look at its heart – the middle-market companies that account for the vast majority of the country's manufacturing jobs. The unique aspect of the data from the McGladrey Monitor lies in the fact that approximately 87 percent of the participants are privately owned or are private equity-owned organizations, making the results rather exceptional for the industry."

"The increase in optimism in the U.S. economy among middle-market manufacturers in the winter Monitor (59% this winter, compared to 24% in the fall) is striking," said Kurek.

"Optimism about the world economy increased significantly, as well, with 27% indicating optimism this winter, compared to 17% in the fall. These increases in optimism are good signs for 2012."

The winter Monitor also shows that automotive and transportation executives are more likely than others to be optimistic about their companies, and automotive and industrial machinery executives are more likely than others to be optimistic about their industries.

To download the full 2012 Winter McGladrey Manufacturing & Distribution Monitor, click here.