The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) indices gauge the business confidence of the electroindustry in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, and are based on the results of a monthly survey of senior managers at NEMA member companies. Those companies represent more than 80 percent of the electroindustry.

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Sept | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

September 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions clawed slightly higher in September, rising to 37.5 points from 37 in August – the second small increase in as many months. Still, the index – which has remained firmly within the low 30 to high 40-point range over most of the last year and a half – continued to lag the 50-point “breakeven” mark, signaling a weakening business environment. Full Report(155k)

August 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions rebounded in August, inching upward to 37 from 33.3 in July. The index had declined in each of the two previous months. Despite the August rise, the index remained firmly within the low 30 to high 40 range seen over most of the last 16 months. Such readings are associated with generally deteriorating business conditions. Full Report (156k )

July 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions fell for a second strait month in July, declining by more than 4 points to 33.3 from 37.5 in June and 48 in May. The index has spent thirteen of the last fifteen months at or below 50 points, with readings generally oscillating between the low 30s and high 40s, signaling an extended period of weak business conditions even as other measures of electroindustry shipments and production have remained largely healthy.  Full Report (154k )

June 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions slipped to 37.5 in June, a decline of 10.5 points from a month ago. The index has trailed the 50-point threshold – a level indicative of deteriorating industry conditions – in each month since November 2007. Over that period, index values have moved in a relatively tight range between 27.3 and 48.  Full Report (154k )

May 2008
Following sharp drops a month ago, NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Indexes (EBCI) for both current and future North American conditions rebounded in May. The EBCI for current North American conditions, after tumbling to 27.3 in April, sprang back to 48. While still slightly below the 50-point mark suggestive of industry expansion, May’s reading does point to a significant slowdown in the rate of contraction. Full Report (179k )

April 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Indexes (EBCI) for both current and future North American conditions fell precipitously in April. After climbing for two straight months in February and March, the EBCI for current North American conditions tumbled by more than 20 points to 27.3, the lowest level recorded since late 2001. An index reading below 50 is indicative of a contraction in industry conditions.  Full Report (184k )

March 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions rose for a second straight month in March. Still, at 47.9, the index again lagged the 50-point threshold indicative of industry expansion. Indeed, March was the fourth consecutive month in which the index failed to top 50 points. Full Report(185k )

February 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions lagged the critical 50-point threshold, which is indicative of industry expansion, for a third straight month in February. Still, the index gained ground in absolute terms, climbing nearly 12 points to 41.7 from 30 a month ago. Full Report(180k )

January 2008
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions fell sharply in January, its second decline in as many months. The index dropped nearly 18 points to 30, its lowest level since December 2006, and is indicative of a marked weakening in business conditions facing electrical equipment manufacturers heading into 2008.  Full Report(179k )