Rosslyn, VA—Recent reports showing improvement in the U.S. economy appear to be proving favorable for many industrial control manufacturers. For example, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association's (NEMA) Primary Industrial Control Index recently reported that sales activity increased by one-half a point in the second quarter of 2003 (2Q03), reaching an index value of 72.4.

After feigning recovery in 2002's first half, the primary index dropped to its short-term low point of 69.4 in 4Q02. However, even with the modest improvement the index reflected in 2003's first half, 2Q03 was still down nearly 10% from the same period last year. Domestic shipments of electrical products within NEMA's scope exceed $100 billion.

Similarly, NEMA's Primary Industrial Control and Adjustable Speed Drives Index, a complementary index used to track industrial control and adjustable-speed drive shipment activity, also recorded moderate improvement in 2Q03—up two points from the 1Q03 level, reaching 95.6. Although the latter Index has had two consecutive positive quarters, it remains 5% below the level reached in 2002.

NEMA issues its Industrial Control Business Indices quarterly. The Primary Industrial Control Index represents U.S. shipments for motor starters, contractors, terminal blocks, control circuit devices, motor control centers, sensors, programmable controllers, and other industrial control devices. The Primary Industrial Control and Adjustable Speed Drives Index provides a broader measure of the industrial control marketplace.