This impact has been felt more in other parts of the country and in selected industries, especially those that produce commodities or are involved in electronics. While local businesses have a significant level of interaction in international markets, they seem to have dodged a bullet and are back on the path to expansion. Recent data from the local NAPM indicates that orders, production, and employment are showing increases after a temporary slowdown earlier this year. Construction Construction projects are popping up everywhere from the football stadium to Ft. Washington Way to the fountain on Fountain Square.
Activity seems frenzied.
It is a good year for the construction market. Residential dwelling activity is expected to remain strong, near last year s level, with continued low interest rates. And, non-residential construction activity should cycle up slightly after the decline last year, since vacancy rates for large Class A contiguous space continue to decline. The forecast of the local economy was mixed. Estimates of total employment growth were slightly high and the panel s forecast of a turnaround in manufacturing employment ended up stronger than expected.