Mixed economic sentiment indices from FMI

FMI, a construction industry consulting firm powerhouse, has published recent economic indicators from its Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT); some point up and others down.

Some indexes, such as the overall U.S. economy and cost of materials, were down from the prior quarter. On the other side, “[r]esults from the fourth quarter 2020 survey show a continued return to confidence, seen in both the Sentiment Index and in the Design Index. The Sentiment Index increased slightly, rising from 52.1 to 54.2, and the Design Index improved from 49.3 to 64.8. This trend is reflective of the cautious optimism toward stability for next year, especially when compared to the significant losses experienced through the first half of 2020.”

The last time both indexes read above 50 was in the first quarter of 2020, so the trend is suggestive of increased demand for design and construction services in the future. In addition, the productivity index was up from 41 to 50. To see the entire report from FMI, click here.