-General economic indicators continue to improve.  Commodity pricing has moved up steadily.  Lead times at the mills have lengthened modestly.

-Chinese coil prices have moved higher and the gap between rest of world coil prices and those in North America has continued to narrow. Yet, we still see evidence of price erosion. 

-Demand indicators are positive leading us to conclude that buyers are still playing the waiting game.  In many circumstances, suppliers with weak order books are able to bail procrastinating purchasers out. Inbound foreign tons have absorbed some of near term demand. 

-It seems that we may be nearing a tipping point.  And, when the first signs of a price floor show themselves to the general market place, expect en masse purchasing and a corresponding uptick in pricing.