Small Business Index Jumped to New All-Time High Small business owners do not appear to have been unnerved by the recent rise in trade tensions with China or the associated sell off in the stock market. The latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index jumped 11 points to new all-time high. Wells Fargo Today is [...]
Chicago Business Barometer Signaled Expansion 33 Consecutive Months The MNI Chicago Business Barometer surged to an eleven month high in November, up 8 points from October. The months result, sitting above the neutral 50-mark, means the Barometer signaled expansion 33 consecutive months. Driving the November increase were soaring orders and higher output. After easing in [...]
The USMCA Impact on US Economy As part of an investigation into the USMCA impact on US economy, representatives from both the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) said the proposed NAFTA replacement would provide benefits to the US steel industry and to the US economy in general. The deal encourages [...]
Increasing Scrap Prices Affect SBQ Price Hikes Prices for special bar quality (SBQ) steel products in the US have risen again, moving up by $0.50 per hundredweight ($10 per short ton) due to increasing scrap prices while market participants eye an early 2019 mill base price hike. US Drill Rigs Running Increased Last Week The [...]
Oil Prices Entered Bear Market Territory In Thursday's trading, oil prices entered bear market territory, closing down at $60.67/barrel amid worries over rising US crude inventories and slowing global demand. West Texas Intermediate crude is now down 21% from its Oct. 3 peak. WSJ US Raw Steel Production Reached a 4+ Year High US raw [...]
Consumer Confidence Index Increased Again The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased again in October. The Present Situation and the Expectations Index's both increased as well. These are at levels last seen in the fall of 2000. Consumers' assessment of present-day conditions remains quite positive, primarily due to strong employment growth." Said Lynn Franco, Senior [...]
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index Increased in September The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the US increased 0.5 percent in September following a 0.4 percent August increase and a 0.7 percent increase in July. The LEI improved further in September, suggesting the US business cycle remains on a strong growth trajectory heading into [...]
Increasing Raw Material Costs Driving SBQ Prices Up Increasing raw material costs driving SBQ prices up by $1 per hundredweight ($20/per ton) across all grades with market participants reporting lead times for hot rolled bar that extend into early February 2019. AMM's price assessment for 1 inch round 1000 series hot rolled bar was at [...]
Small Business Optimism Slipped in September Small business optimism slipped 0.9 points in September but remains near an all-time high. Tighter labor markets are pushing compensation costs higher and many businesses are passing on those higher costs. Wells Fargo US Raw Steel Production Retreated Again Last Week US raw steel production retreated again last week, [...]
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Rose to a New Record High The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to a new record high on Tuesday while major indexes in other regions of the world struggled, a sign investors' growing divergence in expectations between growth in the US and elsewhere. WSJ ISM Non-Manufacturing Index Hits 21-Year High [...]
