The CEA wishes you a
Merry Christmas
and a happy and
prosperous New Year

Christmas Appeal
The CEA secretariat has contributed to the Heart of Mary Villa appeal fund in lieu of sending Christmas cards this year. The construction equipment industry has had a tough year but there are still others much less fortunate than ourselves. This charity is well known for the generous support it receives from our friends at Off-Highway Research more...

CECE Reports Some Increase in Business Optimism
When overall markets have been so bad in the last year or so, we have to welcome any sign of optimism. The latest Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) Business Barometer reports that most of the major European markets now seem to have bottomed out. In their latest monthly survey of construction equipment businesses across Europe, 37 per cent of respondents expected a sales improvement over the next half year (compared with 25 per cent a month earlier) – with "no change" predicted by 42 per cent (up from 34 per cent). 83 per cent felt that France had reached the bottom of the cycle, compared with 76 per cent for the UK and 73 per cent for Germany. Respondents were less confident about the Italian market more...

“Building Business Confidence” – Wednesday 17 March 2010
Our theme for the CEA’s annual conference at One Great George Street, London SW1 is “Building Business Confidence”. Speakers will include senior politicians, market experts and industry leaders. Look out for your invitations in the New Year more...

Assistance Programme in the Slow Lane
HMG admitted this week that the Automotive Assistance programme for car and construction equipment manufacturers launched early this year has yet to approve its first loan deal. The CEA had warned that the tight rules for the scheme involving support for "green" technology projects was unlikely to yield the type of shorter term support needed by our members more...

Construction in the UK Economy: The Benefits of Investment
The UK Contractors Group (UKCG), under the auspices of the CBI, gained widespread coverage of their report on the benefits to the economy of construction spending. The CEA is helping to spread the word to politicians and opinion formers that construction remains one of the best ways of stimulating economic growth and creating jobs more...

Pre-Budget Statement – No Surprises
The CEA joined forces with the EEF and other manufacturers' associations to provide input to the Chancellor before his Pre-Budget Statement (PBS) last week more...