Strategy& Provides Forecasts for 16 Major Industries in 2015 and Beyond

Strategy&'s practice leaders developed the perspectives from industry discussions, observations of shifting market dynamics, and careful analysis of key indicators and data from each sector. Each perspective outlines not only what companies should anticipate in the coming year, but also how to prepare, respond to, and manage the major trends affecting their industry.

See below for a summary of each perspective, including links to the full articles. A related slideshow, highlighting the seven most surprising disruptions in 2015, is also available at strategy+business, the magazine published by PwC Strategy& Inc. here.

2015 Industry Perspectives

Aircraft makers and military contractors face starkly divergent business landscapes, but both sectors are potentially handicapped by fundamental threats - defense companies face fiscally constrained customers, whereas the commercial aerospace business is expanding because of a rebound in global economies and the rise of emerging regions.

Even with recent global sales gains, automakers will need to navigate shifts in consumer demand, expanded regulatory requirements, and the increasing availability of data if they want to build market share now and widen profits from their rapidly changing products.

The airline industry is being hampered by slim profit margins, forcing carriers to focus on both cost reduction and revenue growth through better customer interactions.

Chemicals companies can no longer afford to be passive about restructuring their business models or technological transformations.

Things are going so well for freight firms that it's time to start worrying about the next real danger to the industry: 3D printing.

As consumers, media, and markets splinter, packaged-goods companies must figure out how to profit from fragmentation.

Riding a perilous wave of policy turmoil, consumer empowerment, and tightening profits, healthcare payors and providers have no choice but to go bold.

Companies in the industrial sector continue to do well, but they will have to use their cash to boost digitization efforts and expansion strategies.

Roiled by global economic turmoil, untamed competition, and mind-numbing price swings, energy companies must be bold about transforming their business models.

Facing the economic consequence of urban congestion and traffic jams, will global governments make the intelligent choices they need to about infrastructure and land use?

The credit card sector is a large, growing, and profitable segment of financial services, but it will be addressing four emerging challenges soon: branding battles, innovation in underwriting, "rewards 2.0," and mobile wallets.

E-commerce is capturing almost all the gains in retail sales. The question is, should you care?

According to Strategy&, this is the year when banks can differentiate themselves through customer-focused strategies.

Computer hardware and software firms must choose between profit margins and revenue growth while eyeing new delivery models.

Wired and wireless carriers confront a rapidly shifting technology landscape in which small steps toward digitization are no longer enough.

Utility companies should consider how to restructure financially, while navigating new regulations, distributed generation, and the evolving customer interface.