®A leading indicator, not a hard number
Sentiment reflects how buyers and sellers on the platform feel about near-term direction, which can move ahead of pricing and demand data but should be read as a signal, not a forecast.
Resources for the solar trade
Sentiment Tracker
Buyer and seller sentiment data on where the market feels like it's headed.
Sentiment Tracker
Buyer and seller sentiment data on where the market feels like it's headed.
What this tracks and how to use it
Collected from active platform participants
Data draws on survey responses and behavioral signals from buyers and sellers actually transacting on the marketplace, not a general industry poll.
Your questions, answered.
How is sentiment data collected?
Sentiment is collected from active participants on the platform, the buyers and sellers actually transacting, rather than from an outside survey panel. That grounds it in the views of people currently moving product and sourcing equipment. Because it reflects how the market feels, treat it as directional input rather than a hard measurement.
Does sentiment data lead or lag actual pricing and demand trends?
Sentiment tends to lead, since it captures how participants feel the market is heading before that shows up in settled pricing and volume. That makes it a useful early signal, but it can also move on expectation that doesn't fully materialize. Read it as a leading indicator and confirm direction against hard pricing and demand data.
Should sentiment data be treated the same as hard pricing data?
No, sentiment is a leading indicator of direction, not a hard number to plan against like settled prices or confirmed volumes. It's valuable for reading where the market feels like it's going, but it carries more uncertainty than transaction data. Use it to frame expectations and pair it with actual pricing and demand figures before making firm decisions.