MSCI members see improving conditions

摘要

Steel shortages for service centers are a thing of the past, according to the Metals Service Center Institute's Business Conditions Survey for January. In all, 96 percent of respondents experienced no shortages, compared to 89 percent in December. This is a far cry from the 51 percent who had trouble finding material last July. The industry appears to be shaking the gloom of last fall. Forty-seven percent of service centers expect economic activity to in crease the next three months, compared to only 15 percent in December, and 1 percent in October. Only 9 percent said economic activity would be down, compared to 26 percent the previous month. The percent who said average daily shipping levels were above the previous month increased from 7 to 27 percent, although half still said current average shipping levels were below those of the previous month.