The “Specialty Chemicals Market Volume Index,” a new tool created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), remains on a soft note, falling 0.4% in May from the previous month, on a three-month-moving average (3MMA). This follows steady declines since December 2014, as weakness in oilfield chemicals and a few other segments weighed on overall volumes. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments monitored, 11 expanded in May, 14 declined and three were flat.