Tighter Markets Increase Competition, Cutting Margins And Containing Costs
Hard-pressed by drastic cutbacks in state and local budgets, more highway contractors are working less, further sharpening competition and ratcheting margins down ever tighter. Key highway materials prices appear to be relatively stable, with few spikes expected. Although the end of major conflict in Iraq appears to have stabilized the price of asphalt and other petroleum-based materials, some executives warn that asphalt remains volatile.