The pace of U.S. economic growth moved sideways in January as the CFNAI ticked down +0.12 from a +0.14 score in December. On a three month moving average, (3MMA) basis the CFNAI fell-back to +0.17. This was the fifth consecutive month of positive readings on a 3MMA basis, the first time since 2014 that a [...]
Worldsteel Association (WSA) reports that global crude steel production totaled 138.823 million tonnes (Mt) at a capacity utilization rate, (CUR) of 70.0% in January. Production was up by 1.380 Mt month on month as the CUR was up 0.7 percentage points over December. On a year on year, (y/y) comparison, global crude steel production in [...]
The Consumer confidence index surged 6.5 points in February according to the Conference Board. The index now stands at 130.8, its highest level in a year. Business conditions are reportedly strong and consumers feel good about the job market and the economy. On a year over year comparison, the 3MMA composite index was up 14.7 [...]
Rebar licenses through February 20th totaled 30,273 tons, well down, (75.3%) from last February’s 122,522 tons. On a year to date, (YTD) basis, there have been a total of 154,099 tons of rebar license requests, down 52.3% from YTD 2017. Straight lengths accounts for 98.8% of rebar imports. Figure 1 shows total rebar licenses by [...]
Total SBQ licenses through February 20th totaled 24,015 tons, down 13.4% from last February’s 27,747 tons. Year to date, (YTD) licenses totaled 61,468 tons, up 18.1% from YTD 2017s, 52,041 tons. Figure 1 shows the monthly total SBQ licenses for both 2016 and 2017, (and February 2018) as reported by the Steel Import Monitoring System [...]
Beam licenses through February 20th totaled 29,169 tons, up 5,618 tons or 23.8% from last February’s total of 23,551 tons. Month on month, (m/m) February’s license volume was higher by 4,095 tons. Year to date, (YTD), total licensed beam imports stand at 54,243 tons. Wide flange beams accounted for 66.8% and standard I beams made [...]
Wire Rod licenses for the month of February through the 20th, totaled 85,978 tons, 46.1% lower than February 2017. On a YTD basis licensed import volume was 191,266 tons, 35.5% less than the 296,766 tons YTD 2017. Three HTS codes are includes in this analysis. Year to date, the largest contributor is Bars (<0.55”), which [...]
Total Merchant licenses, (representing 10 HTS codes), year to-date, (YTD) through February 20th totaled 108,918 tons, down 39,955 tons or 26.8% from last year’s 188,873 tons. Month to-date, there have been a total of 42,475 tons of Merchant license requests, 42.8% lower than February 2017 volume of 74,239 tons. Figure 1 shows the overall total [...]
January 2018 got off to a strong start for architecture firms as the national ABI recorded its highest score since 2007. This score of 54.7 was up from December’s 52.8 and reflects an increase in design services provided by U.S. architecture firms. It also marks four consecutive months of readings of growth in design billings. [...]
Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), shows that total light (cars and light truck/SUVs), vehicle sales in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, (SAAR) of 18.237 million (M), units, up 383,000 units or 2.1% from November. On a three month moving average (3MMA), basis sales were tracking at 18.178M, down 1.2% [...]
