SMU Data and Models
September 29, 2019
SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index: Optimism Takes a Hit
Written by Tim Triplett
Steel Market Update’s Buyers Sentiment Index saw a big change this week—and not for the better—with Current Sentiment dropping by 23 points to a reading of +29 and Future Sentiment dropping by 20 points to a reading of +31. Even though the +29 and +31 readings are within the optimistic range of our index, both are the least optimistic measurements of buyer sentiment in nearly six and a half years, since mid-2013. At this time last year, both indexes registered +61.
SMU believes the negative reaction is based on a number of factors:
