According to AEM’s annual Outlook survey, sales of concrete and aggregate equipment by year-end 2008 are predicted to decline 8.6 percent for the United States and 5.3 percent for Canada while increasing 20.4 percent for worldwide markets. For 2009, sales are expected to increase 4.6 percent in the United States, anticipated to grow 2.0 percent for Canada and predicted to gain 3.9 percent for worldwide markets. The construction equipment manufacturing industry expects continued business declines in the United States through year-end 2008 of 8.6 percent, followed by flat growth in 2009 of 0.04 percent. The AEM survey provides a snapshot of construction machinery manufacturers’ predictions for overall year-end 2008 and 2009 business in the United States, Canada and worldwide. Canada is predicted to fare better, with business stabilizing at minus 1.7 percent for 2008, followed by 2.2 percent growth in 2009. Sales to worldwide markets are anticipated to increase 8.5 percent by year-end 2008 and gain 5.4 percent in 2009.