This week's decision by the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis is a sign that governments are concerned about a slow-down.
In the US, the fear centres around the impacts of the ongoing US-China trade war, which has already taken a toll on the forklift market.
The Fed move is also an attempt to address broader concerns about the global economy stoked by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
These developments make an interesting backdrop for the current round of financial reports from the major materials handling manufacturers, many of which are expected to downgrade their profit projections.