Report shows drop in manufacturing and logistics in Delaware

A report by Ball State’s Center for Business and Economic Research found that Delaware has fallen behind in manufacturing and logistics.

The 2017 Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card ranks each state based on several metrics.

Delaware’s grades in human capital, tax climate, diversification, fiscal liabilities, manufacturing, benefits costs and logistics dropped. Global position and productivity and innovation, among our highest rankings already, stayed the same from last year.

The report nonetheless noted that manufacturing has grown 11 percent since 2000.

“According to folklore, this has been a terrible generation for manufacturing and those who move goods,” CBER Director Michael Hicks said. “That isn’t really what the data says. Indeed, 2015 was a record manufacturing production year in inflation-adjusted dollars. While 2016 fell just short with some weakness in the first and second quarter, 2017 looks to be a new record year.”