NEMA’s EBCI Bounces Back in December But Still Indicates Slower Growth

The current conditions component of NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index bounced back from last month’s 36.7, but at 46.2 points it did not return to expansionary territory.

The ElectroIndustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) is a monthly survey of senior executives at electrical manufacturers published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, VA. Any score over the 50-point level indicates a greater number of panelists see conditions improving than see them deteriorating.

After flirting with an expansionary reading last month, the future conditions component retreated to 46.2 points in December. The decline was driven by an increase in the share of respondents expecting worse conditions in six months. General optimism mixed with hope for a positive resolution of the tariff kerfuffle with China was tempered by concern about how the coming two-party rule in Washington will affect the business environment.