Industrial Heating Economic Indicators for May showed improvements in Request for Quotations while Orders and Backlogs continued to decline. In spite of declining orders, optimism remains for the next 30 days according to the General Health of the Thermal Processing Industry indicator. May 2003 index numbers, released today, indicate the changes experienced by responding companies from April 2003 to May 2003: Change in number of Request for Proposals from April to May is 54.7, change in the Number of Orders from April to May is 49.3, Change in Backlog from April to May is 46.2, and expected change in the Health of Thermal Processing Industry through June is 53.1. A number above 50.0 indicates increased activity or growth. A number below 50.0 indicates decreased activity or a decline in growth. Look for these numbers, along with historical values, on the editorial page of the next issue of Industrial Heating. Roughly 375 industry suppliers are faxed a survey the first full week of each month. If you are an industry supplier and would like to participate in this monthly survey, please contact Industrial Heating publisher, Doug Glenn - tel: 412-531-3370, or by email: doug@industrialheating.com. These results are also published monthly on the editorial page of Industrial Heating.