Similar to Guenther and Young (2000), we use Pearson correla-tion coefficients, examining correlations between several financialaccounting indicators (Return on assets (ROA), cash-flow, accru-als, leverage and earnings management, and different proxies foreconomic activity). We agree with Guenther and Young (2000)that GDP growth rate, measured in real terms, can be the mostcomprehensive measure of economic activity. However, the spe-cial characteristics of construction activity lead us to think thatthe proxy growth in house prices may also be appropriate. Con-sequently, we have also used housing price growth in real terms,as a proxy for the underlying economic situation. In Spain, differ-ent entities publish data on the real estate market. The AppraisalSociety presents a statistic about the evolution of the price of thenew housing in Spain (hereafter PVST), while the Housing Ministryprovides data on the housing price considering all the appraisals(new and old buildings) made in Spain (hereafter PVMV).