Jason Sandefur

Confidence in the North American and global economies slipped for the first time in three years.
The industry usually rates the North American economy slightly higher than worldwide, but at the end of 2006 at 3.2 the global figure just edged out the 3.1 for North America. A year ago North America rated 3.3 vs. 3.2 for the global economy.
In the dozen previous years the question has been asked in the FIN Survey, North America rated higher every previous year except for a tie at 3.3 at the end of 2004.
The difference was more FIN Survey participants pegging their international economic confidence at “moderate” and fewer “low”
North America drew 21.3% “high” rating vs. 23% global, but the bigger difference was that 68.9% had “moderate” confidence worldwide vs. 57.4% for North America. Only 6.6% had “low” confidence globally, vs. 18% for North America.
No FIN Survey participant rated either global or North American confidence as “very low.”
Distributors gave the global economy a 3.3 average vs. 3.1 by manufacturers. Both distributors and manufacturers rated the North American economy at 3.0, with importers raising the overall average 3.1. \ �2007 FastenerNews.com