Although it seems that in recent weeks the market has
reflected a new sense of impending doom, manufacturing industry economist, Dr. Chris Kuehl says the slowdown is only temporary and not
the start of another breakdown in the economy.
The
PPI for inputs to construction industries - a blend of all materials used in
every type of construction, plus items consumed by contractors such as diesel
fuel - rose 1.4 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively.
"While
credit scarcity and economic uncertainty continue to weigh down remodeling,
signs of increasing consumer interest are promising," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.
Construction employment
rose by 33,000, the largest gain in nearly four years, but much
of the increase may have represented catch-up from a weather-exacerbated drop
of 22,000 jobs in January.
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