by jbs030110 e3 — March 8, 2010—Demand for lighting equipment increased during the fourth quarter of 2009, climbing 4.1 percent and marking the second consecutive increase following a 31 percent peak-to-trough decline, according to the Lighting Systems Index from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
With the exception of emergency lighting, all of the market segments tracked in the LSI contributed to the improvement. The recent gains may signal a turning point, but overall lighting equipment demand remained weak, notes NEMA.
NEMA says the demand for lighting systems with commercial or industrial applications is poised to weaken for the foreseeable future as conditions in most commercial real estate markets will remain poor through 2011. Commercial lighting equipment demand might benefit from retrofitting activity, and outdoor equipment and other lighting systems associated with public sector infrastructure projects should be a bit of bright spot in the short term as the bulk of remaining stimulus funds are spent over the course of 2010, adds NEMA.
For more information, see the NEMA Web site.
