NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions slipped to 37.5 in June, a decline of 10.5 points from a month ago.
The index has trailed the 50-point threshold — a level indicative of deteriorating industry conditions — in each month since November 2007. Over that period, index values have moved in a relatively tight range between 27.3 points and 48 points. The EBCI is a monthly survey of senior executives at electrical manufacturers published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va.
Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions extended its modest rebound to a second month as the index climbed 5.5 points. That performance came on top of the 2.5 point gain seen from April to May. Despite these recent signs of life though, June’s reading of 37.5 points continues to paint a dour picture of the electroindustry business environment over the next half year.
Panelists were significantly more upbeat in their assessments of current conditions and future growth prospects for the other three world regions included in the EBCI survey:
- Current and future conditions readings for Latin America climbed to 62.5 and 50, points respectively.
- Current and future conditions readings for Europe increased to 60 points and 50 points, respectively.
- Current and future conditions readings for the Asia/Pacific region jumped to 62.5 points and 68.8 points, respectively.