Pit & Quarry Index

The December Pit & Quarry index -- published in the December issue of Pit & Quarry magazine, but leaked to the public here first -- dipped to 204, the third month in a row it has declined. The index remains above the benchmark 200 level. Used as a predictor, the index tells us that 4th quarter production and profit may be slightly lower than the third quarter, but nothing serious. Your comment?