There are glimmers of hope in the scrap metal industry, an economic bellwether, but the light is still dim.
Prices of copper, brass and other metals have shown signs of life after crashing dramatically last fall.
For some people, at least, it's a positive sign, as higher metal prices usually mean increased demand and a stronger economy.
Higher prices also bode well for metal recyclers who saw their business turn to rust over the winter.
Prices of some common ferrous metals fell more than 80% from last summer to early this year. Even prices of exotic metals, such as titanium, plummeted amid lackluster demand.
Click here to read more about copper and the scrap metal market.
