Though NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions retreated slightly in June, a companion indicator of expected conditions six-month ahead climbed to its highest level in nearly four years.

The current conditions EBCI slid 6.6 points to 41.3. While that was only the second decline in the last six months, the index has remained below the key 50-point mark associated with conditions supportive of industry growth since November 2007.

Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American business conditions rose in June for a fourth month in a row, increasing nearly 3 points to 68.2, the highest level since August 2005. This indicates a growing proportion of industry executives see an improvement of at least some degree in the business environment within the next six months from today’s depressed levels.

The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index gauges the business confidence of the electroindustry in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, and is 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.

http://www.nema.org/econ/ebci/index.cfm