Data Watch: Building Industry Groups Report Uptick in Business

Landscape and outdoor specialties see optimism dip from one year ago. Scores are up compared with the previous quarter for landscape and outdoor specialty firms, as well as specialty building and renovation firms. Landscape and outdoor specialties include landscape architects, designers and contractors; outdoor replacement trades such as pavers; and outdoor product installers, manufacturers and resellers of items such as pools and spas. But notably, the scores for these two groups are down compared with one year earlier. Weather has a much bigger effect on these two groups than on the others.