Overall, 2001 was not a negative year, even if the consequences of some events may still have residual effects, such as the Argentine crisis or the repercussions of the Enron case. Additionally, the continuing crisis of the Middle East could affect oil prices, thus involving not only some macro-economic variables, but also the everyday lives of ordinary people and companies by raising transport and energy prices. In the last quarter of the year, the prices of raw materials generally decreased as a direct consequence of a weakened world demand. But energy costs are prone to be affected by other factors as well, even more so by politics, especially when it comes to oil or to such a delicate area as the Middle East.
It seems that a decisive role in the recovery is being played by the housing and building industries, especially in the U.S., which still act as propellers for the Western economies and beyond. If the building sector - and the housing sector in particular - remains high, other sideline businesses, such as the stone sector, will also be favorably affected. This, of course, is provided that this building increase does not dwindle away to yet another speculative bubble, as it has always happened over the last few years.