The business environment has improved markedly since December 2009, according to electrical equipment manufacturers polled in NEMA’s most recent business confidence survey. The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions rose sharply in March 2010 for a third straight month, increasing 7.2 points to 71.7 points — its highest level since May 2004.
The EBCI index is derived from responses to a survey of senior executives of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va. A value above 50 points indicates that more respondents reported that the business environment improved from the previous month than reported that it worsened.
Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions gained ground in March, inching up 0.9 points to 71.7 points, reflecting widespread sentiment that business conditions will continue to pick up, at least to some degree, over the next six months.
Current and future conditions in Latin America were stable, showing a 0.7-point change for current conditions and no change for future conditions. In Europe, the EBCI Index dropped 2.9 percent for current conditions and 6.3 percent for future conditions. The EBCI for the Asia-Pacific region was mixed, with a 2.9-percent increase for current conditions and a 0.9-percent drop for future conditions.