Electricalmarketing 3820 20190308emebci
Electricalmarketing 3820 20190308emebci
Electricalmarketing 3820 20190308emebci
Electricalmarketing 3820 20190308emebci
Electricalmarketing 3820 20190308emebci

NEMA’s EBCI Future Conditions Index Turns Bullish with +22.1% Increase in February

March 8, 2019
Healthy activity on respondents’ books and some good economic news were only somewhat tempered by continued concern about instability from policymakers.

In edging up to 55.9 points in February from 53.3 points last month, the EBCI current conditions component moved further into expansionary territory and solidified a shift away from a handful of sub-50 readings late in 2018.

The ElectroIndustryBusiness Conditions Index (EBCI) 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.

Fewer respondents perceived a plateau this month, as the share of the panel that reported unchanged conditions declined. Although the share of those who indicated worse conditions ticked up, the proportion of those who saw better conditions outpaced them. Healthy activity on respondents’ books and some good economic news were only somewhat tempered by continued concern about instability from policymakers.

The future conditions measure reversed course dramatically in February, adding 22.1 points to last months’ 36.7 value. At 58.8 points, the EBCI’s future conditions metric is back into positive territory and marks the greatest expectation of better conditions in the survey since May 2018. Some commenters noted the potential for weakness because of trade and other policy uncertainties, while others cited strengthening orders activity despite potential trouble spots ahead.