yes- this is exactly the type of response I have been getting. I find this strange though, considering the low wages that the actual manpower is paid. I believe that the past two years of irrational exuberance have distorted the average contractor's idea of what a fair economic profit should be. Comparing labour costs, material costs, taxation burden, labour protection, safety costs, legal liability etc; every single one of them is cheaper here than in Europe or the US. However, the unit cost for a typical civil or mechanical job is higher, and quality is lower. This can only mean that profits being made are not economically sustainable. Greed has overtaken reason.

These chickens are returning to roost though...the glory days are now gone, and they ain't coming back.