Nelson-Farrar indexes for finished steels changed drastically during 2002-05. Generally speaking, alloy steel indexes changed less than carbon steel products.
Alloy bars started the period with an index value of 796.5 and finished at 1,190.0. Alloy sheets stood at index value of 494.1 in early 2002 and at 774.8 in early 2005.
The index for cold-rolled sheets was 911.4 during first-quarter 2002 and stood at 1,492.6 during first-quarter 2005. During the same period, structural plates started at an index of 962.4 and ended at 1,698.0.
The composite index for steel products increased to 1,493.7 during first-quarter 2005 from 866.8 in first-quarter 2002. The composite category includes all steel-mill products. This analysis shows steady increase in the cost of finished steels during 2002-05.
Click here to download a table (PDF) of Itemized refining cost indexes.
