The business environment has improved markedly since December 2009, according to electrical equipment manufacturers polled in NEMA’s most recent business confidence survey. NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions rose sharply in March 2010 for a third straight month, the organization said today, increasing 7.2 points to 71.7 – its highest level since May 2004.

Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions itself gained ground in March, inching upward 0.9 points to also come to rest at 71.7, reflecting widespread sentiment that business conditions will continue to pick up, at least to some degree, over the next six months.

Find the latest NEMA reports here: www.nema.org/econ/ebci/index.cfm.

Business conditions affect engineering and manufacturing in other ways:

– Video: Industry executives reflect on business outlook survey ;
– Motors shipments gain 6.1%, fourth-quarter 2009, NEMA says ; and
– Manufacturing is the core of U.S. economic success .
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief, Control Engineering , www.controleng.com.