ROSSALYN, Va. — The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s (NEMA) Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America declined for a second straight month in May, falling to 50 from 54.8 a month ago and 58.3 in March. The same proportion of panelists — 26 percent — reported business conditions improved in May. In April, 38 percent reported an improvement in conditions versus 29 percent reporting deterioration.

Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions lost ground for a third month in a row. The index dropped to 52.2 in May from 66.7 in April and is down nearly 27 points from the year-to-date high of 78.9 reached in February. Thirty-five percent of May’s panelists expect the business environment to improve over the next six months while 30 percent expect it to decline.