Their somewhat brighter outlook likely has to do with improving sales at their companies, says Ken Simonson, a NABE analyst and chief economist for Associated General Contractors, a construction industry trade group.
Forty-six percent of the economists surveyed reported increased sales at their company over the past three months, and only 17% indicated a decrease in sales. In January, 38% indicated sales were up and 30% said business was declining. Simonson says that economists likely believe that the rise in their companies’ revenues indicates stronger growth in the economy overall.
