YOU wait all year for some cheerful stories from the construction trade, and then two turn up on the same day.

I’ve lost count of the times when, in response to an optimistic survey or a tiny increase in GDP, the editor has asked me if we should run a front page story proclaiming The Recession Is Over.

At times like that I always thought it best to be blunt, and say: “Pete, don’t be daft.”

The question, are we/aren’t we heading out of the downturn? has been a recurring topic on business pages this year.

Just as one set of figures has given reasons to be cheerful, the latest gloomy unemployment data reminded you that for thousands of North-Easterners the recovery was largely something that was being enjoyed by people living south of the M25.

The construction industry is often regarded as a trustworthy bellwether for assessing the state of the economy.

So, we have kept a very close eye on it throughout 2013.

From March, we backed a campaign by industry bodies calling on George Osborne to safeguard thousands of North-East jobs.

The Chancellor’s response was feeble, which makes it all the more remarkable that a handful of construction firms are finally starting to report an upturn.

In today’s Jobs&Business supplement, it is great to showcase the successes of CA Group in Evenwood and Darlington’s J and RM Richardson (no relation).

Bosses at both are optimistic that the industry could be about to make a sustained recovery. We won’t be running the end of the recession front page just yet, but any signs of an upturn deserve to be celebrated.

Cheers.

IF you get a spare five minutes please take a look at today’s centre pages, where Steven Hugill and I have picked our favourite stories of the year.

Some of his selections are accompanied by pictures of him, such as this one, below, from the day he took a starring role in the Guantanamo Bay theatre company’s all-male production of Romeo and Juliet.

Hugill’s rampant ego means that too often in 2013 we have seen him mugging in front of camera. I must apologise. It’s a worrying trend and something I plan to stamp out the new year.

Unless I’ve got it wrong and you want to see more of him in the paper. I leave it up to you.