Declarations

Construction Slowdown

“The proliferation of foreclosures is a dark cloud that overshadows the construction industry.”

—Ken Mayland, president of ClearView Economics, commenting on data that shows construction spending has fallen by nearly 4 percent this year. Most analysts predict a long and bumpy road ahead for builders to get back on firm footing.

Ironies of Weather

“What seems to be an irony, we just had record rains a week ago, now we’re hot and dry, or at least the fine fuels are hot and dry and can easily burn.”

—Meteorologist Walter Drag of the National Weather Service, commenting on an elevated wildfire risk in much of New England for a brief period this month, just days after the region was soaked by some of the heaviest rain in 50 years.