The survey will be used as an overall indicator of Long Island's economic health. Results announced with the initial release of the survey reflect Long Island manufacturers' plans through May of 2016. According to Purolator, the inaugural index reached 200 Nassau and Suffolk County manufacturing leaders, who participated in the phone survey conducted by Stony Brook University and Princeton Survey Research Associates. It found 45 percent of respondents expecting orders to increase over the period under review, with another 49 percent expecting orders to remain level. Reasons for an anticipated increase included the emergence of new customers or markets, a general improvement in business conditions, changing seasonal demand and an expansion in production capabilities.
