Economy
January 2, 2014
SMU Key Market Indicators
Written by Peter Wright
An explanation of the Key Indicators concept is given at the end of this piece for those readers who are unfamiliar with it.
The total number of indicators considered at present is thirty six. The present situation of eleven of the indicators based on historical standards was positive on December 28, the same as on November 21, twelve were negative and thirteen considered to be neutral. This was a decrease of one in the negative category as the capacity utilization of the long products mills was moved to neutral with a value of 81.1 percent. This continues to be the best result since this analysis was first published in March when seven indicators were positive by historical standards and fourteen were negative. The present situation of the general economy is pretty much in a holding pattern with five indicators in neutral, two positive and one negative. The SMU Buyers Sentiment Index and the SMU Service Center Apparent Excess statistics are both currently positive by historical standards. Present situation indicators for long and flat steel products are similar with shipments at both the mill and service levels low by historical standards. All the construction indicators, except the producer price index of commodities, are negative at present. All the manufacturing indicators are either positive or neutral.
