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    SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index Unchanged from One Month Ago

    Written by John Packard


    Steel Buyers Sentiment continues to be well within the optimistic end of our range as the Steel Market Update (SMU) Future Sentiment Index was reported to be +61 this week.  This is up one point from two weeks ago but unchanged from one month ago. The SMU Future Sentiment Index measures how buyers and sellers of steel feel about their company’s ability to be successful three to six months into the future, was reported at +67 one year ago. All of these numbers are well within the optimistic range of our index.

    As you can see by the graphic below, the SMU Future Buyers Sentiment Index has been treading water since the middle of January after coming off a +70 reading at the very beginning of the year. Last year we saw Sentiment improving at this time of year into the early summer months before tailing off.

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