Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from (used for) operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,069us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 2,777us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from (used for) operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	5,007	6,011
Loss on disposition of property and equipment		12
Stock-based compensation	953us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	914us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Other long-term assets	(230)zeus_OtherLongtermAssets	(851)zeus_OtherLongtermAssets
Other long-term liabilities	(3,783)zeus_OtherLongtermLiabilities	(199)zeus_OtherLongtermLiabilities
	3,016	8,664
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable	(27,673)	(34,618)
Inventories	30,842us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2,508us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Prepaid expenses and other	5,075	1,347
Accounts payable	1,091	2,889
Change in outstanding checks	4,964	(9,629)
Accrued payroll and other accrued liabilities	(2,747)	850
	11,552	(36,653)
Net cash from (used for) operating activities	14,568	(27,989)
Cash flows from (used for) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,691)	(2,341)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment		7
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,691)	(2,334)
Cash flows from (used for) financing activities:
Credit facility revolver borrowings	112,410us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	115,525us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Credit facility revolver repayments	(122,400)	(80,720)
Term loan repayments		(2,187)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Proceeds from exercise of stock options (including tax benefits) and employee stock purchases	9	137
Dividends paid	(220)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(219)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Net cash from (used for) financing activities	(10,201)	32,536
Cash and cash equivalents:
Net change	2,676	2,213
Beginning balance	2,238	3,186
Ending balance	4,914	5,399
Interest paid	1,413us-gaap_InterestPaid	1,440us-gaap_InterestPaid
Income taxes paid	$ 39us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	$ 25us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid

The sum of adjustments which are added to or deducted from net income or loss, including the portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, to reflect cash provided by or used in operating activities, in accordance with the indirect cash flow method.

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