SMU Data and Models
May 3, 2020
SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index: Still in Negative Territory
Written by Tim Triplett
Having lived through the difficult month of April, steel buyers remain pessimistic about current business conditions, but more hopeful about the future.
Steel Market Update asked steel buyers how they view their company’s current prospects for success, as well as their chances for success three to six months in the future. The Current Sentiment reading at the end of April was -3, a small improvement from -8 in the beginning of the month, but still in negative territory. Prior to last month, the last time Current Sentiment was in the negative range was November 2010. In early March, prior to the coronavirus shutdowns, Current Sentiment registered +58.
