March 2009 CONFINDEX Reading

by Anirban Basu
  • Overall index still remains in “negative territory”
  • March overall reading of 84 shows a slight uptick compared with December’s reading of 79
  • Slightly higher overall reading a reflection of higher optimism over prospects for 2010
  • Panelists viewed “current conditions” as “significantly worse” than 3 months ago reflecting reduced backlogs and a more pessimistic current overall attitude
  • 24% expect general business conditions in 2010 to be better than today
  • Little change over the past 3 months regarding both current and expected general availability of bank credit
  • Working lines of capital are essentially unchanged

Copyright © 2009 by the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). All rights reserved. This report first appeared in March 2009 on CFMA.org.

About the Author

Anirban Basu

Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore, MD. He is one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most recognizable economists in part because of his consulting work on behalf of such clients as prominent developers, bankers, brokerage houses, energy suppliers, and law firms.

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