
An increase in optimism is evident for both residential and
nonresidential construction activity in 2018.Wells Fargo
The showcase of the report is the Optimism Quotient (OQ), a measure of the industry’s expectation for local, nonresidential construction activity for the year ahead. For 2018, the Optimism Quotient is a 20-year high of 133, with both distributors and end users reporting high expectations for activity levels this year. It’s a 10-point increase from last year and 25 points above the 2016 results, showing that respondents continue to feel very positive about construction industry activity in 2018.