Part of the danger of using anecdotal evidence is that one untimately believes what he sees is happening everywhere else. For that reason, I don't run-around saying that I can see for 40+ story highrises being built through my window, and roughly 10-12 if I walk around the block.
I think you hit it. Everyone has tunnel vision and can really only relate to what they experience and see in their areas. Everything else is anecdotal to a large degree.
Central Maine has been losing manufacturing jobs recently, but only in what were dying industries anyway.
Paper and shoes, both pretty much uncompetitive in this neck of the woods.
On the other hand, construction of all sorts, commercial and residential, is really strong.