I use the Construction Monitor to track building activity in the Spokane Region. Besides providing me with a handy weekly update of residential permits, the material for large commercial and industrial permit valuations allows me to summarize valuation volatility between periods. I am periodically interviewed by the local press, and asked to interpret the Spokane Regional economy. The Construction Monitor provides accurate information in a timely manner with relatively low effort on my part, allowing me to focus on the explanation the impact of construction have as one of key drivers of the economy. The opportunity to provide data, along with the richness associated with each specific permit, gives me an information edge that adds to richness of my commentary.