Economy


  • A female trainee plumber is seen working on a central heating boiler.
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    Cash flow problems continue to plague subcontractors: report

    A survey of 800 construction pros found a majority of firms dip into profit margins to maintain working capital.

    By April 24, 2025
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    Sedat Suna via Getty Images
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    Roche, answering tariff threat, pledges $50B to US drug production

    The big pharma joined several of its peers in committing to invest billions of dollars in new and expanded manufacturing facilities in the U.S. 

    By Jonathan Gardner • April 23, 2025
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    The Bold Bureau via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    The 9 largest commercial construction starts of March 2025

    Activity ticked up during the month but still trails last year's pace through the first quarter, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By April 22, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Healthcare construction bucks broader building slowdown

    Flexible design, early planning and resiliency are driving steady momentum in the space, says Derek Gregg, vice president of operations at Robins & Morton.

    By April 17, 2025
  • A commercial real estate leasing agent gives a tour inside an empty office.
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    Mindful Media via Getty Images
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    Office demand remains resilient in Q1, despite economic uncertainty

    Sublease availability and new construction deliveries continue to decline, creating the conditions for “cautious optimism” in the sector, Cushman & Wakefield says. 

    By Joe Burns • April 16, 2025
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    Gerville via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The AI infrastructure race hits a political reality check

    The AI-driven data center boom has created demand for land, electricity and water, a dynamic that has spawned growing opposition from communities, utility grid operators and regulators.

    By Joe Brettell and Jeff Berkowitz • April 14, 2025
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction materials costs rise for third month on tariff pressures

    Contractors are receiving price hike notices on several key inputs, complicating efforts to plan and budget new projects.

    By April 14, 2025
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    Veronique D via Getty Images
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    Amid tariff turmoil, Novartis commits to spending $23B on US manufacturing

    Novartis expects the new capacity will allow it to produce all of its key medicines “end to end” in the U.S., as the Trump administration buffets global trade with tariffs.

    By Jonathan Gardner • April 11, 2025
  • Canadian and American flags stand in front of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit.
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    Bill Pugliano via Getty Images
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    Tariff tensions threaten Canada’s construction market

    In response to a trade war that experts say will hurt contractors in both countries, some Canadian jurisdictions have blocked U.S. firms from bidding on government contracts.

    By April 11, 2025
  • The Scripps San Marcos Medical Center in San Marcos, California.
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    Courtesy of Scripps San Marcos Medical Center
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning falters

    Uncertainty around impacts from tariffs likely weighed on development decisions, said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network.

    By April 10, 2025
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    Win McNamee/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Chicago asks city contractors to cut invoices by 3%

    The request to firms that had already signed contracts, sent by the city’s chief procurement officer, could put significant strain on small builders.

    By April 10, 2025
  • Construction on a mixed-use apartment complex in Los Angeles, Calif.
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    ‘Unwelcome surge’ of project abandonments hits construction

    Developers scrapped nearly twice as many private projects as public ones in March, according to the latest data from ConstructConnect.

    By April 9, 2025
  • Several construction cranes hover over a jobsite
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    Juergen Sack via Getty Images
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    Number of construction cranes in US cities dips 19%

    Major markets counted fewer cranes in Q1, a sign of prolonged economic uncertainty.

    By April 8, 2025
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    Sean Rayford/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    March 2025 economic roundup

    Rising costs and tariff uncertainty clouded the nonresidential construction outlook last month.

    By April 8, 2025
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    Nordroden via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Tariffs will change the way projects are financed, delivered

    Rising material costs from President Donald Trump’s trade war are altering how deals are structured and jobs are executed, writes a construction executive.

    By Brian Gallagher • April 8, 2025
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    VCG via Getty Images
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    China readies 34% tariff on US imports starting April 10

    The country's retaliation against President Donald Trump's trade policies builds upon previously announced duties.

    By Max Garland • April 4, 2025
  • President Trump Holds "Make America Wealthy Again Event" In White House Rose Garden
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    Andrew Harnik/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Sweeping new tariffs put future construction projects at risk

    Despite exemptions for key building materials, import taxes announced Wednesday by President Donald Trump could lead to a slowdown in new work, experts say.

    By April 3, 2025
  • An ironworker on a construction jobsite.
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Hiring slows amid economic uncertainty

    Job openings data indicate contractors are reluctant to dismiss workers, even as unfilled positions fell year over year.

    By April 2, 2025
  • Heavy machinery sits near the Broad River
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    Sean Rayford/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Public projects boost construction spending to $1.26T high

    Civil outlays in February fueled a record month for expenditures, but interest rates and tariff concerns continue to slow private growth.

    By April 2, 2025
  • President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump’s tariffs: Tracking the status of international trade actions

    The U.S. has rolled out a deluge of tariffs, sparking responses from trading partners. Here's where each tariff – threatened or realized – currently stands.

    By Philip Neuffer , Edwin Lopez • March 31, 2025
  • Construction site in Dubai, featuring a yellow tower crane against a backdrop of modern skyscrapers and a partly cloudy sky.
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    frantic00 via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by RSM US LLP

    Construction and real estate companies can prepare for tax changes under Trump

    How construction and real estate firms can prepare for tax changes under a Trump-led government in 2025.

    By Marlon Fortineaux, Real Estate Tax Leader; Gene Garcia, Senior Analyst; Mac Carroll, Senior Analyst • March 31, 2025
  • Aerial view of Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
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    Wirestock via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    The 9 largest commercial construction starts of February 2025

    Groundbreakings held steady following a slow start to the year, with commercial activity offsetting slowdowns in multifamily and manufacturing, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By March 27, 2025
  • Construction workers help build a condo tower
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    Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    The construction materials most at risk for tariffs

    Rebar, structural steel, piping and ductwork are all facing price volatility, according to Skanska USA Building executive Steve Stouthamer.

    By March 25, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Fed holds main rate steady, forecasts higher inflation, slower growth

    “Growth looks like it's maybe moderating a bit, consumer spending moderating a bit, but still at a solid pace,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a press conference.

    By Jim Tyson • March 20, 2025
  • In an aerial view, an Amazon Web Services data center is shown situated near single-family homes on July 17, 2024 in Stone Ridge, Virginia.
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    Nathan Howard/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning posts smaller gains

    Data centers kept momentum afloat in February, while institutional sectors lost steam, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By March 17, 2025