IPA SBRB Study: Construction Industry Survey Shows Greater Optimism for Economy than Overall Small Business Sector; Construction industries concerned about material costs.

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- In its first survey directed at small businesses in the construction/contractor industry, the International Profit Associates Small Business Research Board (IPA SBRB) measured and compared overall small business to this important business segment.

The IPA Small Business Confidence Index (IPA SBCI), which measures expectations about revenue growth, the general economy and hiring looking forward 12 months now stands at 47.3 for all small business. In the construction/contractor industry, the IPA SBCI is at 49.3 as compared to 44.6 in the non-construction businesses in this survey.

The construction industry is more optimistic about the general economy for the next year than small business overall. Construction company executives are 23% more optimistic than their business peers in the non-construction small business sector. 48% of those in construction surveyed felt the general economy will improve compared with 44% in overall small business and 39% in non-construction industries.

When asked to identify the single most important issue to their businesses, 25% of those in construction identified the cost of materials as most important. This compared to 10% in non-construction businesses. Conversely, the cost of energy/fuel was cited by 16% in non-construction small business and only 3% of construction/contracting businesses.

Finding quality employees is of major concern to many businesses, but a bit less so in construction. Overall, 13% indicated finding quality employees is the single most important issue facing them. In construction, 10% identified this as the most important issue, while in non-construction small businesses, 16% of owners and managers identified this as the top issue.

On the hiring front, construction expects to increase hiring more than general small business. Overall, 39% of small businesses expect to increase hiring during the next year. In construction, 43% feel they will increase hiring as compared to 34% in non-construction industries.

"The differences in expectations of construction executives versus their peers in other industries is striking," said Gregg Steinberg, President of International Profit Associates, the largest privately-held provider of management consulting and professional services to small and medium-size businesses in North America. "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," added Steinberg.

The IPA SBRB is expanding its research to specific industry segments. With this release of construction/contracting industry data the IPA SBRB is focusing on the first of many specific industry segments. Looking forward, the IPA Small Business Research Board will provide information which reflects the opinions of both the overall small business community as well as important specific industries that drive the American economy.

The International Profit Associates Small Business Research Board ascertains and reports the opinions of small business owners and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own businesses as well as national and international issues that may impact their operations.

Participants in the poll provide feedback on significant issues and allow for real-time insight into the state of small businesses nationwide. The universe of participants is developed from among small businesses across the United States. Nearly 500 small business owners and senior managers participated in this IPA SBRB poll, of which 281 were in the construction/contractor industries. The IPA SBRB study is a voluntary survey conducted via phone and email. The poll was structured and supervised through an independent resource.

The latest information about the IPA Small Business Research Board can be found at www.ipasbrb.com.

International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA) is the largest privately-held provider of management consulting services to small and medium-size businesses in North America. IPA and its more than 1,800 professionals offer a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper regardless of the economic cycle. IPA either provides directly or through its affiliated companies a comprehensive array of business advisory services, tax and estate planning services or merger, acquisition and other financial advisory services in the United States and Canada. More information about IPA can be found at www.ipa-iba.com.