Electrical market strength continues; confidence dips slightly

National Electrical Manufacturers Association says it’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index for current North American conditions stood at 55.8 in May, down from the high 60s in February, March, and April. Even so, results remain strong, NEMA says, and they reinforced a spate of recent data indicating that market conditions for electrical equipment manufacturers are robust. Indeed, the index has now topped the 50-point growth threshold for 37 consecutive months.

By contrast, the index for future North American conditions fell sharply to 26.9, reflecting the now widespread view that business conditions at year-end will be weaker to at least some degree than currently, NEMA says.

The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index gauges the business confidence of the electroindustry in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, and is based on the results of a monthly survey of senior managers at NEMA member companies, representing more than 80% of the electroindustry.

Click here for more on the May 2006 index, including charts and a list of participating companies.

For Control Engineering ’s quarterly index of automation firms, go to www.globalelove.com and search on FTN.

—Edited by Mark T. Hoske , Control Engineering editor in chief

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