Analyze This, February 2010

Feb. 1, 2010
Percentage increase in NEMA’s Primary Industrial Controls Index during the third quarter of 2009 as compared with the second quarter

1.6%

Percentage increase in NEMA’s Primary Industrial Controls Index during the third quarter of 2009 as compared with the second quarter. While this represented the first quarter-to-quarter gain for the index since 2008(Q2), shipments remain at a very low level, with the index still more than 30% below the third quarter mark of 2008.
Source: NEMA

-0.6%

Percentage drop in construction spending in November, putting the total at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $900 billion, which is down 13% from November 2008 and the lowest total in six years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

-20%

Percentage drop in the number of construction workers filing initial unemployment claims in November 2009 as compared to the same time a year ago. Initial claimants dropped by nearly one-half among employees of building contractors and nearly one-fourth among heavy and civil engineering employees but were unchanged for specialty trade contractors.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

16

Level of builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes in December. This total is one point less than the previous reading. According to NAHB, this can be attributed to the continued weakness in the economy and job markets, which has weighed on consumers’ potential home buying plans.
Source: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index

46%

Percentage of contractors recently surveyed by the Associated General Contractors of America that say they plan to buy new construction equipment in 2010, which is down from 61% in 2009. A total of 34% of respondents indicated they would purchase used equipment in 2010, as compared to 50% who said the same in 2009.
Source: Associated General Contractors of America

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