Out in the field…April 2010

This week I’ve been in the great state of Texas.  I drove from Dallas to Houston and back.  I was told that Spring blooms from Houston to Dallas at a rate of 20 miles a day…the blue bonnets, yellow wildflowers and red clover were spectacular.

There is also a feeling that typically Texas goes into a recession last and comes out last.  The oilfield industry is picking up.  The optimism is unlike what I have seen elsewhere as I have traveled throughout the country.  Perhaps Texas will lead the country in coming out of the economic doldrums. 

Forestry was soft earlier in the year due to all of the bad weather that moved through the Southeastern US.  The weather cleared and March was strong and April is starting even stronger.  Sales of Industrial Engine Parts used primarily in forklift applications have been strong this year as well.  The Material Handling Dealers and Independent Repair Facilities in Texas are busy.  The telehandler utilization rates are low here as they are elsewhere, but there does seem to be some early movement.  The optimism is that things will really begin to pick up over the next couple of months, where what I heard in other parts of the country was people talking about this year remaining flat with some slight improvement in 2011.

Let’s hope that the signs of economic improvement in Texas spread to the rest of the country like the wild flowers are spreading from Houston to Dallas!

All the best!