Optimist grows 43.1% among building companies
O Estado de S. Paulo
Optimism regarding the performance of the companies and the Brazilian economy started prevailing again among the civil construction entrepreneurs last month, after the terror caused by the international financial crisis. The 40th Construction Industry National Survey reveals that the favorable perception of the entrepreneurs of the sector about the economic growth of the Country this year increased by 43.1%, from May to August, besides indicating greater optimism of the companies in relation to both their current performance and the one of the coming months. There was also a reduction of 18.2% in the level of financial difficulties faced by the companies compared to May.
The national survey, made every three months by the Union of the Construction Industry of the State of São Paulo (Sinduscon-SP) and by FGV Projetos, with the support of the Brazilian Construction Industry Chamber (CBIC), is a sort of thermometer of the sector. "The perspective has changed and the civil construction companies, both the ones aimed at public works and those aimed at private works, are more optimistic", affirms the president of the Sinduscon-SP, Sérgio Watanabe. "The financial difficulties have decreased for the building companies and they are under less pressure."
Watanabe recalls the sector has felt the impact of the crisis in November and December last year. Then, it evolved at a slower pace in the first quarter, pulled by projects that were already underway. With the launching of the housing program of the government - Minha Casa, Minha Vida -,vigor improved. According to the president of the Sinduscon-SP, the greater optimism among the entrepreneurs of the sector was stimulated by the increase of public works, especially those sponsored by the State governments, because of the pre-election year, as well as by industrial and commercial private works. Besides the favorable setting for the pace of the construction, the survey reveals an unfavorable setting for the costs. Although the prices of the inputs are declining, the entrepreneurs are concerned with the increase in the cost of manpower.