SMU Data and Models
January 3, 2018
Key Market Indicators Positive for First Quarter
Written by Peter Wright
Key market indicators bode well for business conditions in the first quarter of 2018. Steel Market Update’s view of the present situation based on our examination of data released in December shows that 47.2 percent of the 36 indicators are historically positive with only 19 percent negative. The balance is within the historically normal band. The total of positive and normal has not changed in six months. However, there have been frequent changes in the detail. Trends improved with 80.6 percent of the indicators heading in a positive direction, up from 61.1 percent in October and from 72.2 percent in November. Trends lead the present situation by about four months.
See the end of this piece for an explanation of the Key Indicators concept. It explains 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. The total number of indicators considered in this analysis is 36.
