The economy and the construction industry sound like an out-of-step marching band these days. Homebuilding continues to lead the parade; the boom of its drum is reverberating through other kinds of construction. Consumers skipped the recession but are stepping more cautiously now and have a case of the blahs, while the rest of the economy has missed its cue for a strong entrance and is acting as if might start marching backwards. Each of these trends has implications for different types of construction.
However, a lot of churning is going on beneath that calm surface. Let's start with the best news.