NEMA’s January Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions built on the momentum generated at the end of 2012, climbing for a fifth month in a row to 73.8. The nearly 10 point gain relative to December brought the index to its highest level since the Great Recession. Moreover, the survey’s measure of the degree of change in current North American conditions was in positive territory for a third straight month.
The EBCI for future North American conditions rose for the second month in a row, increasing to a 10-month high of 85.7. The index had measured 72.2 in December.
NEMA is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Its member companies manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic imaging systems. Worldwide annual sales of NEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion.
