SMU Survey: Sentiment splits, buyers have better view of future than the present

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposite directions this week. After rebounding from a near five-year low in late June, Current Sentiment slipped again. At the same time, Future Sentiment climbed to a four-month high. Both indices continue to show optimism among buyers about their company’s chances for success, but suggest there is less confidence in that optimism than earlier in the year.

Every two weeks, we poll thousands of industry executives asking how they rate their company’s chances of success today, as well as three to six months down the road. This data is used to calculate our Current and Future Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices, metrics we have tracked since SMU’s inception.