Construction Executives Give Future Thumbs-Up

Mar 07, 2017

Construction industry executives are extremely optimistic on the state of their industry, according to the 2017 Construction Industry Forecast of contractors and equipment distributors released from Wells Fargo Equipment Finance.

The survey’s Optimism Quotient (OQ) for measuring industry sentiment reached 123 for 2017, its third-highest reading in 20 years. Contractors and distributors reported similar cost concerns: contractors were focused primarily on employee wages and other benefits (24 percent), taxes (21 percent) and healthcare costs (19 percent), while contractors were concentrating on distributors were concentrating on equipment costs (31 percent) and healthcare costs (22 percent).

“An OQ reading at this level leads us to believe that the industry will continue to build on the momentum generated over the last few years,” said John Crum, senior vice president and national sales manager of the Construction Group at Wells Fargo Equipment Finance. “Contractors have increasingly improved their businesses and this year looks to provide more opportunities to do that again.”

About the author

Phil Hall

Link copied

Published

Mar 07, 2017

Analysis and Data

Jobs Report Comes In Weak After Mortgage Rates Surge

Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, sending Treasury yields lower and offering a potential counterweight to the recent rise in mortgage rates

The September jobs report gave the mortgage market something it hasn't had much of lately: downward pressure on Treasury yields.U.S. employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The ...

Wholesale

The Loan Store Rebrands As Averra Financial

The wholesale lender is adopting a new identity three years after acquiring Homepoint’s wholesale business and rising to No. 4 in industry rankings

The Loan Store has a new name after a three-year expansion that transformed the once-small wholesale lender into one of the largest players in the broker channel.The Tucson, Arizona-based lender has rebranded as Averra Financial Inc., effective immediately, the company annou...

Nov

Houston, TX

More from

Industry News

Garg Claims Majority In Better Fight, Board Poised To Honor Vote

Founder says he secured more than 51% of voting power to remove five directors, pending confirmation by a third-party inspector

C-Suite Strategies

Oct 01, 2026

Rocket Makes VantageScore Its Default After Testing Finds Borrower Savings

After four months of testing, Rocket will make VantageScore 4.0 its preferred model for eligible retail loans while keeping both scoring options available to brokers

Industry News

Sep 29, 2026

CHLA: More Freddie Mac MBS Buying Could Narrow Mortgage Spreads

Trade group estimates greater Freddie participation could compress spreads another 10 to 12 basis points as Fannie has taken the lead in GSE mortgage-bond buying

Industry News

Sep 23, 2026

Early Loan-Limit Race Splits Into Three Tiers

Lenders are now offering $845,000, $847,440, or $850,000 before FHFA sets the official 2027 limits

Industry News

Sep 23, 2026

Better, Garg Clash Over Claimed 46% Shareholder Support

Better disputes its former CEO’s preliminary consent count as the two sides trade accusations and an Oct. 2 target date approaches

C-Suite Strategies

Sep 23, 2026