Industry optimism up, prices mixed. (paint and coating industry)(Industry Overview)

Kansas City - Calls around the industry lately have brought out a new round of optimism on both the paint manufacturer and supplier side of the aisle. Comments regarding a good start to the new year and heart warming adjectives to describe last year should form a welcome pattern. There is still some skepticism about lost customers due to acquisition and job shrinkage, but for the most part there seems to be a feel good atmosphere as we go to press.

And the economics seem to bear that out as well. Inflation under control, the unemployment picture and the usual goodies have, for the near term, held off interest rate escalation by the Fed and supported the stock market, …