A year ago, fuel costs were not even on the list of top issues. |
The differences in expectations of construction executives versus their peers in other industries is striking. Growth in the construction sector, coupled with higher costs for construction materials and hiring pressures, will be watched closely by the Federal Reserve as it determines future interest rate policy for the economy in general. |
While the cost of gasoline is driving the public's attention, it is one of the basic material costs that now represent more than a quarter of the responses as the single major concern for small and medium-size business owners. The important thing for business owners to remember is to have strong real-time controls in place that take into account changing market conditions and provide for immediate operational adjustments. |