Consolidation--The Juggernaut Hits the Wall

Looking further into the future, many of our experts see a two-tiered industry of large, national companies and small, regional players.

"We continue to believe that industry consolidation makes sense and that it will continue steadily until a few major companies dominate," Colville asserts. "Additionally, a merger of excess capacity in 'old economies' with productivity gains of 'new economy' technologies may accelerate the pace of consolidation."