SMU Key Market Indicators Wane, Lack Clarity

Monthly Key Market Indicators, as analyzed by Steel Market Update, continued their shift to a neutral position over the past month with positive indicators eroding further, slipping for the sixth successive month.

What began as a typical summer slowdown, worsened by a surge in Delta cases and a less-than-ideal job market, has been compounded by supply-chain bottlenecks, rising producer prices and concerns over inflation. The dynamics have pushed market indicators lower, leading to a more neutral or watchful market.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.