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    Analysis

    August 8, 2025

    SMU Survey: Modest improvement in Sentiment Indices

    Written by Brett Linton

    SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both ticked higher this week, though they remain only a few points from multi-year lows. Our Current Sentiment Index increased this week after two consecutive declines, while Future Sentiment inched up one point. Both indices continue to show that buyers remain optimistic for their company’s chances of success, though far less confident than they felt earlier in the year.

    Every two weeks, we survey 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. The results are used to calculate our Current and Future Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices, metrics we have tracked since our inception.

    Brett Linton

    Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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