Midwest 01 2014

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Published 4 Nationally

โ€œThe Nationโ€™s Best Read Construction Newspaperโ€ฆ Founded 1957.โ€

Midwest Edition

www.constructionequipmentguide.com

January 4, 2014 โ€ข Vol. IXX โ€ข No. 1 โ€ข 470 Maryland Drive โ€ข Ft. Washington, PA 19034 โ€ข 215-885-2900 โ€ข Toll Free 800-523-2200 โ€ข Fax 215-885-2910

Inside

ELFAโ€™s MLFI-25 Reports New Business Volume

โ€œThe Cat Island project will restore an important part of Lower Green Bay. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all the partners, this effort will provide important spawning, nursery, and rearing habitat for fish and other aquatic species,โ€ said Charlie Wooley, the serviceโ€™s Midwest regional deputy director.

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Associationโ€™s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $827 billion equipment finance sector, showed its overall new business volume for November was $6.6 billion, up 3 percent from new business volume in November 2012. Month-overmonth, new business volume was down 13 percent from October. Year to date, cumulative new business volume increased 5 percent compared to 2012. Receivables over 30 days were at 1.8 percent in November, up slightly from 1.5 percent in October. Delinquencies declined from 2 percent in the same period in 2012. Charge-offs declined to once again match the all-time low of 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent the previous month. Credit approvals totaled 76.5 percent in November, a slight decrease from 77.6 percent the previous month. Forty-seven percent of participating organizations reported submitting more transactions for approval during October, a level more in line with previous monthsโ€™ activity after a spike to 82 percent last month. Finally, total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 1.4 percent year over year. Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundationโ€™s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-

see RESTORATION page 64

see SURVEY page 84

Alm ost 3,000 Attend Ritchie Auction...54

Several local, state, and federal agencies are cooperating in an unusual and longawaited project to restore Wisconsinโ€™s Cat Island barrier chain, which has been eroded by water, waves, and weather over the years. Cold Ushers in Smock Snowball Sale...88

ConExpo Retro See page 26 for an ongoing series of highlights from past ConExpos as they were reported in the pages of CEG.

Table of Contents ................4

Agencies Work to Restore Cat Island Barrier Chain By Mary Reed CEG CORRESPONDENT

Several local, state, and federal agencies are cooperating in an unusual and long-awaited project to restore Wisconsinโ€™s Cat Island barrier chain, which has been eroded by water, waves, and weather over the years.

Recycling Section ........33-45 Attachment & Parts Section ......................................49-51 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................67-77 Business Calendar ............78 Auction Section............82-89 Advertisers Index ..............90

Industry Remains Fragile Despite Job Gains By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT

Thirty-nine states posted gains in construction jobs over the past year, but analysts say the industry remains fragile. โ€œWe think the market is soft,โ€ said Brian Turmail, spokesman of

The Associated General Contractors of America. โ€œPrivate sector demand is getting weak and employment gains can be fleeting.โ€ That concern was underscored by Mississippi, which led the country with a 17-percent increase, or 8,000 jobs, over

2012. Nonetheless, the southern state lost more than 2 percent โ€” 1,300 โ€” of those jobs from October to November, placing it at 49th out 50 states for growth. Conversely, Indiana led the monthly rankings with a 4.8 percent increase โ€” 5,400 construction jobs โ€” but saw a 3.4 percent

decline or about 4,100 jobs over last year. California added 31, 500 jobs for an increase of 5.2 percent. But even that is a mixed picture. โ€œThey top the list in total jobs added,โ€ Turmail said. โ€œBut itโ€™s a tale of two markets. In coastal see JOBS page 56


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