NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, has released the March edition of its Electroindustry Business Confidence Index. Current conditions across all four regions included in the NEMA Business Confidence survey topped the growth threshold of 50 points for the third consecutive month in March.
The North America index climbed nearly five points to 60.4, following a dip in February, and marked its 23rd consecutive month at a value of 50 or higher. The Latin America index advanced 10 points from February to 66.7, and has indicated conditions favorable to growth in that market since August 2003. Confidence in current conditions in both the Europe and the Asia/Pacific regions lost ground in March. The Europe index fell nearly four points to 54.5, while the Asia/Pacific index slid nearly seven points to 63.3.
For a complete summary of the March 2005 index, including charts and a list of participating companies, visit http://www.nema.org/econ/ebci/upload/EBCI-2005-03.pdf.
The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index 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.
NEMA is a trade association in the United States representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its 400 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control and end-use of electricity.