2020 CIRT Sentiment Index: Fourth Quarter Report
Results from the fourth quarter 2020 survey show a continued return to confidence, seen in both the Sentiment Index and in the Design Index. The Sentiment Index increased slightly, rising from 52.1 to 54.2, and the Design Index improved from 49.3 to 64.8. This trend is reflective of the cautious optimism toward stability for next year, especially when compared to the significant losses experienced through the first half of 2020. Continued relaxing of social distancing requirements, significant government stimulus and improved client confidence have all contributed to improved expectations. This quarter marks the first time since first quarter 2020 when both indexes read above 50, suggestive of increased demand for design and construction services in the future.
Current issues topics in this quarter’s survey assessed the potential impact, both positive and negative, across a variety of trends affecting U.S. economic/business conditions in 2021. More than half of respondents, or 60%, selected U.S./world health issues, vaccines or pandemics as one of the top most positive impactful factors, followed by private sector investment (45%) and the results of the U.S. presidential and congressional elections (40%). Conversely, the majority, or 54%, of respondents selected the results of U.S. presidential and congressional elections as one of the top three most negative impacts to the U.S. economic/business conditions in 2021, followed closely by U.S./world health issues, vaccines or pandemics at 43%.
