Consumer confidence slipped a bit in September as the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Composite fell 0.6 points to 119.8 points. Despite the slight decline, confidence remains at an elevated level. The composite index three month moving average (3MMA) stood at 120.0, up 0.8 points month on month (m/m). The Consumer Confidence Survey measures the level [...]
After a disappointing month in July, August advanced durable goods orders rebounded in August rising 1.7%. On a year to date, (YTD) year on year, (y/y) comparison, DG increased by 5.1%. The change this month was mainly in the non-defense aircraft segment. However, the critical non-defense capital goods orders segment posted a 0.9% month on [...]
SBQ final imports to the U.S. were up 23.8% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), and totaling 318,424 tons for the seven months ending July 2017. July SBQ imports came in at 46,666, 3.0% greater than the 45,293 ton January to June average volume. Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank [...]
Wire rod final imports to the U.S. were up 14.1% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), and totaling 1,262,595 tons for the six months ending July 2017. July’s tonnage recorded 183,584 tons, 2.1% higher than the January to June average volume of 179,835 tons Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank [...]
Merchant final imports to the U.S. were up 3.1% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), totaling 340,977 tons for the seven months ending July 2017. July merchant imports came in at 41,046, 17.9% greater than the 49,989 ton January to June average volume. Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order [...]
Rebar final imports to the US were down 10.3% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), and totaling 1,184,741 tons for the seven months ending July 2017. July rebar imports were 148,692 tons, 13.9% lower than the January to June average. Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order on a YTD [...]
Beam final imports to the US were down 2.3% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), totaling 343,965 tons for the seven months ending July 2017. For the month of July, Beam imports totaled 71,036 tons up 56.2% from the January through June average of 45,488. Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in [...]
The pace of U.S. economic growth slowed in August as evidenced by the declining score of the CFNAI. The CFNAI fell -0.31 in August after ticking up a revised 0.03 in June. On a three month moving average, (3MMA) basis the CFNAI dipped into negative territory for the first time in five months, with a [...]
Worldsteel Association (WSA) reports that global crude steel production totaled 143.58 million tonnes (Mt) at a capacity utilization rate, (CUR) of 72.2% in August. On a year on year, (y/y) comparison, the capacity utilization rate was up 3.7 percentage points, a significant increase. For the seven months ending August total worldwide raw steel production totaled [...]
China Metals Weekly (CMW), September 21st newsletter reported that long products prices fell across the board on a week over week basis from 0.5% to 2.1%. However, on a month over month (m/m), basis long products increased for all long product lines. Angles advanced 5.3% m/m to $605 per ton, channels moved-up 4.8% m/m to [...]
