NEMA’s EBCI Index for Current Conditions Shows Solid Gains in November

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions climbed nearly 13 points to 58.3 in November, its third straight monthly increase. The index reached its highest mark for current conditions since April. In addition, more respondents than not reported an improved business environment for the first time since June.

The EBCI, a monthly survey of executives at electrical manufacturers published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., is now comfortably over the 50-point level indicating an equal number of panelists see conditions improving as see them deteriorating. Most of the panel reported that conditions had not changed from October to November.

The EBCI for future North American conditions posted a modest retreat of 2.7 points in November, slipping to 61.1 from 65.9 a month ago, but remained well above the 50-point threshold. While 44% of panelists said they expect conditions to improve in the future, up from 36% in October, more than 22% now expect them to falter, as opposed to less than 5% a month ago.