(by Rye Druzin, www.pipe-logix.com) US line pipe prices rose this month to $2,314/short ton (st), with domestic price increases outpacing a rise in import prices. The line pipe index increased by $32/st, the fourth consecutive month prices rose. Domestic prices rose by 2%, while import prices increased by 0.7%. The domestic all sizes ERW average price fell by 0.9% to $1,804/st, while the all sizes seamless average price jumped by 3.5% to $3,453/st. The import all sizes ERW average price rose by 2% to $1,415/st, while the imported seamless average pipe prices slipped by 0.1% to $2,584/st. The distributor’s sentiment fell by four points this month to a positive reading of 64. The price outlook declined by four points to a positive reading of 96. The new orders diffusion index dropped by 17 points to a neutral reading of 50. Oil prices were flat in December compared to the prior month, while natural gas prices jumped by 14%. HRC prices fell by 2.6% sequentially in December. The average North American drilling rig count for November was up by four at 588 compared to the prior month.