Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/255289
February 2014 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 45 In many cases, rental rates have not kept pace with rising new equipment costs, making rentals a better value than other alternatives. Many contractors have cut back on their service and maintenance person- nel and see an advantage to letting dealers and rental companies maintain the equipment. Financial considerations, such as freeing up lines of credit and leaner balance sheets. More flexibility to bid on a wider, diverse group of jobs. While 2013 was better than 2012, it was not as good as many predicted it would be. Again, this year many are forecasting that 2014 will be better than 2013. The chances of this being the case are probably greater than last year. There are a lot of positive signs that the growth of the U.S. economy will continue to rise, unemployment will continue to decline, and consumer confidence and spending will continue to increase. That being said, some things to watch for on the macro level that could slow the recovery include: Rising long-term interest rates and the availability of consumer credit The (questionable) commitment of federal and state governments to maintain and/or upgrade the infrastructure The general dysfunction in Washing- ton and concern about the president and Congress' ability to govern and lead the country effectively. In conclusion, 2014 should be a better year than 2013, and with the exception of the coal industry, growth in most all other major markets should continue to improve. PORTLAND, OREGON EDMONTON, ALBERTA JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI DON'T REGRET YOUR DECISION! TOO MANY OTHERS ALREADY DO . WWW.PIERCEPACIFIC.COM 800.760.3270 Only Pierce long reach booms are designed to meet the strict design demands of leading OEMs. And unlike cheaper offshore imitations, Pierce booms come with "no worries" warranty coverage, top-level support and guaranteed performance. Hey, it's your hard-earned reputation, don't you think you should compare apples to apples? A Pierce boom is not an imitation wrapped in a different skin…can they make the same claim? MARCH 4-8 EXHIBITOR SEE YOU AT CON-EXPO IN LAS VEGAS (continued on next page) Regions