Using accounting ratios to measure construction industry lag

Purpose The apparent lag between macro-economic behavior and financial implications in the construction industry is yet to be examined. The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of the lag and the relationship between economic changes from year-to-year and the impact on the financial status of construction companies. Design/methodology/approach Correlation was made between US economic growth and construction industry financial indicators over a 28-year period. Cumulative per cent growth in US GDP was considered an independent variable, while nine financial ratios were calculated and considered dependent variables in this study. Findings The results of this study found that correlation improved when considering lag of two, three or sometimes four years after the economic event. Some financial ratios proved more sensitive than others, supporting the hypothesis of this study. Research limitations/implications The practical application of this study for construction companies is to understand how the construction industry lag impacts financial behavior. It therefore informs managerial decisions related to solvency, liquidity, equity structure and managerial practices; all of which are measured by financial ratios. Practical implications This study was intended to advance the research in this area and also to serve to strengthen industry members in their financial management of construction companies. Economic dynamics have long-lasting implications, which can be addressed through an increased focus on managing financial health. Originality/value Though the lag is intuitively known and has been studied from market perspectives, there is a lack of empirical study evaluating the impact of lag on financial key performance indicators.