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Market Update | May 28, 2025

After sliding for five consecutive months, the confidence of U.S. consumers rebounded in May. The May Consumer Confidence Index came in 98.0, up 12.3 points from April. The Present Situation Index increased nearly 5.0 points to 135.9. The Expectations Index, based on a short-term outlook, increased a sharp 17.4 points to 72.8. Despite the jump, the current level remains below the key threshold of 80, which typically signals a recession ahead. The boost in May came as the framework for potential widespread trade deals became clearer.

Market Update | May 7, 2025

New home sales increased for the second consecutive month in March and was at its highest monthly rate since September. March new home sales came in at a 724,000 unit rate, up 7.4% from February and up 6.0% from the 683,000 unit rate in March 2024. Sales have now increased, on a year-over-year basis, in back-to-back months, and in four of the last five months. The inventory of unsold new homes held steady, ending the month flat from the end of February at 493,000 units. The month-end inventory, when combined with March's sales rate, equates to 7.1 months of supply.

Market Update | May 7, 2025

New home sales increased for the second consecutive month in March and was at its highest monthly rate since September. March new home sales came in at a 724,000 unit rate, up 7.4% from February and up 6.0% from the 683,000 unit rate in March 2024. Sales have now increased, on a year-over-year basis, in back-to-back months, and in four of the last five months. The inventory of unsold new homes held steady, ending the month flat from the end of February at 493,000 units. The month-end inventory, when combined with March's sales rate, equates to 7.1 months of supply.

Market Update | May 7, 2025

New home sales increased for the second consecutive month in March and was at its highest monthly rate since September. March new home sales came in at a 724,000 unit rate, up 7.4% from February and up 6.0% from the 683,000 unit rate in March 2024. Sales have now increased, on a year-over-year basis, in back-to-back months, and in four of the last five months. The inventory of unsold new homes held steady, ending the month flat from the end of February at 493,000 units. The month-end inventory, when combined with March's sales rate, equates to 7.1 months of supply.

Market Update | April 23, 2025

New home sales increased for the second consecutive month in March and was at its highest monthly rate since September. March new home sales came in at a 724,000 unit rate, up 7.4% from February and up 6.0% from the 683,000 unit rate in March 2024. Sales have now increased, on a year-over-year basis, in back-to-back months, and in four of the last five months. The inventory of unsold new homes held steady, ending the month flat from the end of February at 493,000 units. The month-end inventory, when combined with March's sales rate, equates to 7.1 months of supply.

Market Update | April 9, 2025

While dropping on a month-over-month basis, total carbon steel consumption was up compared to last February. February total steel consumption came in at a 277.3k tons/day rate, up 1.2% compared to last February. Carbon sheet consumption saw similar trends, sliding 6.8% from January but climbing 3.45 from last February to a 148.5k tons/day rate. This was the highest February daily rate since 2020.

Market Update | March 26, 2025

Now up for the second consecutive month, durable good new orders increased 0.9% in February to a $289.3 billion rate and follows a 3.3% increase in January. Excluding transportation, new orders were up 0.7% compared to January. New orders for both primary metals and fabricated metal products increased in February, climbing 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively. ​Nondefense capital goods (ex. aircraft) new orders slipped however, sliding 0.3% after seeing a 0.9% increase in January.

Market Update | February 26, 2025

The upward pricing momentum accelerated this week with prices now closing in on nine-month highs, with current mill offerings closer to fresh 52-week highs. Increased buying activity, steady demand, and rising costs, particularly from scrap, continue to add fuel to the current market upswing.