U.S. Steel Capacity Utilization: The total tonnage for the week ending December 26th was 1,600 million net tons, at a capacity utilization rate of 72.3%. The year-to-date tonnage output is 78,758 million net tons, at an average capacity utilization rate of 67.0%.

Oil and Gas Rotary Rig Counts (US):  The total number of operating rigs in the U.S. the week as of December 25th was 264 oil and 83 gas (totaling 347). In percentage terms, on a month on month, (m/m) basis, oil rigs were up 9.5% and gas up 7.8%.

Oil and Gas Rotary Rig Counts (Canada):  The total number of operating rigs in Canada the week as of December 25th was 31 oil and 51 gas (totaling 82). In percentage terms, on a month on month, (m/m) basis, oil rigs were down 18.4% and gas down 20.3%.

Advanced Durable Goods Orders: The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new orders for durable goods orders increased by 0.9% month on month (m/m) in November 2020, following the 1.8% increase in October. The always-volatile nondefense aircraft orders, down 125.3% y/y influenced this trend significantly.

U.S. Steel Capacity Utilization: The total tonnage for the week ending November 28th was 1,561 million net tons, at a capacity utilization rate of 70.6%. The year-to-date tonnage output is 72,393 million net tons, at an average capacity utilization rate of 66.6%.

Oil and Gas Rotary Rig Counts:  The total number of operating rigs in the U.S. the week as of November 27th was 241 oil and 77 gas (totaling 318). In percentage terms, on a month on month (m/m) basis, oil rigs were up 9.0% and gas down 6.9%.