NEMA’s EBCI Index Slumps in December

After improving for two months in a row in October and November, NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America declined in December, falling to 50 points. One-quarter of December’s panelists reported conditions improved during the month, with the same share reporting they declined. Half the panelists reported no change in conditions between November and December. 

The EBCI Index is a monthly survey of senior executives at electrical manufacturers published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va. Any score over the 50-point level indicates a greater number of panelists see conditions improving than see them deteriorating.

December’s EBCI for future North American conditions remained above the 50-point break-even mark but retreated to 65 points. Half of December’s panelists expect the business environment to improve over the next six months compared to 20% who expect it to decline. Thirty percent of panelists expect conditions to remain largely unchanged from the end of 2014 in the first half of 2015.