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You’ll find a fair amount of confidence in the results of the Business Record’s annual Executive Survey, conducted via e-mail May 7-12. The charts in the “Central Iowa Forecast” section show that local business leaders have positive expectations for the months ahead.

However, comments given by some of the respondents provided evidence that the months-long national credit crunch is having effects locally, and not just in the high-profile case of Regency Homes.

“We are seeing a lesser number of potential buyers for investment real estate,” wrote Bill Wright of Terrus Real Estate. “Also, the retail section of our business is affected, as tightening lending standards have made it more difficult for small business owners to borrow money.”

Greg Judas, owner of K.C. Holdings Inc., wrote: “Lenders are not looking at speculative building today in the same light as they did 12 months ago. Most lenders are asking for a percentage of signed leases before moving forward with a loan on an existing property or new construction.”

And Paul Bratney, president of Bratney Cos. Inc., wrote: “We have seen major projects canceled or slowed due to lack of financing.” His company specializes in building grain-handling projects and biofuel plants.

Most survey respondents said their companies are not feeling much of a pinch because of rising fuel costs, but several noted that they are making adjustments.

At Nationwide/Allied Insurance, staff members are doing “less travel by auto and by air,” wrote President Kim Austen, “in favor of videoconferencing for smaller group meetings.”

Mike Kinter, owner of Kinter Construction Services, wrote that his company is combining trips for material purchases and is “not as lenient on employee use of company vehicles.

Another view of the situation came from Randy Studer, chairman of Central Financial Group: “I sincerely believe this fuel price increase has been blown out of proportion by the press. … I was in Spain one week ago, and the local price was $8 per gallon when converted from liters and euros. They have simply learned to conserve and economize far sooner than we, something we should have done nearly 30 years ago.”

Given the opportunity to comment on any subject at all, some of the survey-takers offered these thoughts:

Kevin Crowley, chief operating officer of Iowa Realty Commercial: “The current economic climate brings as much opportunity with change, which is never comfortable.

“The Greater Des Moines area has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the last 15 years. … We still have strong employment; we will not be able to sustain growth at the pace we have enjoyed.”

Wes Harrington of Harrington Homes Ltd.: “I would expect the Des Moines real estate market to make a comeback before the national market. We didn’t see the dramatic run-up in prices that many markets saw, so prices don’t have to fall as much to come back in line with incomes.”

Robert Riley, president and CEO of Feed Energy Co.: “Ethanol is just rearranging carbon chains on the deck of the Titanic. We need the development of non-carbon-based fuels.”