Economic Confidence Remains Steady

John Wolz

Fastener industry confidence in overall North American economic conditions at the end of 2004 remained at the same level as a year ago: 3.3. The highest rating was 3.8 at the end of 1998, and the low was 2.7 for 2002.

A 50.4% majority pegged their confidence at “moderate,” and 38% rated it “high.”

At 2.8 Canadians were less confident about their continent”s economic outlook than the 3.4 rating from U.S.-only participants.

Overall FIN Survey respondents” confidence in global economic conditions which usually runs below that for North America improved from 3.1 a year ago to 3.3. That matched both the current level for North America and the high for the global economy at the end of 1995. Nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of the total pegged their world confidence level as “moderate” and 29.2% “high.”

At 2.9 Canadians were less confident than the 3.3 that U.S.only FIN Survey participants gave the world economy. \ �2005 FastenerNews.com