Economy

August 2017 at a Glance
Written by John Packard
August 31, 2017
The following table is for the month of August 2017. Most of the data speaks for itself. We produce this information at the end of every month. There are a number of data points or reference points that are proprietary to Steel Market Update. These include our SMU Price Momentum Indicator which, at the end of August, was referencing prices as being Neutral. With a new round of price increases out of the domestic mills, we have not yet seen momentum move in a forceful way and we remain in Neutral.
We also have proprietary price indices on hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume and plate steel, as well as ferrous scrap (Midwest). Another proprietary product is our service center inventories indices and analysis.
There are many other proprietary products that are not listed in the table below and you can find out more about them on our website under Premium level products.

John Packard
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Fewer manufacturers optimistic about the economy
PMA’s April report shows that only 16% of surveyed manufacturers anticipate an increase in economic activity in the next three months (down from 23% in March)

Architecture billings continue to slide in March
Architecture firms said billings continued to decline in March, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.

Beige Book shows concerns about trade policy
Manufacturing was mixed, but two-thirds of districts said activity was little changed or had declined.

New York state manufacturing index drops again in April
Firms were pessimistic, with the future general business conditions index falling to its second lowest reading in the more than 20-year history of the survey