Steel Industry Key Market Indicators

An explanation of the Key Indicators concept is given at the end of this piece for those readers who are unfamiliar with it. This will explain the difference between our view of the present situation which is subjective and our analysis of trends which is based on the latest facts available. Looking back from the end of December we see that our view of the present situation deteriorated throughout 2015, improved through September this year and has been flat for the last three months of the year. Trends improved from December last year through May, then reversed course and deteriorated for four straight months through September before picking back up in the last three months. It is quite common for these two attributes to move in opposite directions as trends tend to lead the present situation by about four months.

The total number of indicators considered in this analysis is currently 36.