Economy

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    John Moore/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Manufacturing continues to drive construction spending

    An uptick in megaproject funding drove overall nonresidential outlays higher for the third consecutive month, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

    By • Oct. 2, 2023
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    sculpies/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    Contech Funding

    5 construction technology firms snare funding

    Three startups completed seed rounds and two established companies bolstered their coffers in recent months.

    By • Sept. 27, 2023
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    sandsun via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

    Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

    By Construction Dive staff
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    ‘Everybody’s going to be impacted’: Fed shutdown would delay civil work

    Infrastructure projects will be held up if the government is not funded by Sunday, according to the White House and association leaders.

    By • Updated Sept. 27, 2023
  • A collection of people in business attire stand against a backdrop curtain in the middle of a barren area. They have shovels. They are shoving the shovels into the dirt.
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    Courtesy of VinFast
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    Economic Reports

    Manufacturing, transportation gains lift construction starts

    Factory project kickoffs continued their tear, rocketing 285% from the month before.

    By • Sept. 22, 2023
  • Workers prepare to lift a new pedestrian bridge into place at the Stamford Transportation Center on August 26, 2023 in Stamford, Connecticut.
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    John Moore/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Construction M&A deals slow after record run

    A rebound in mergers and acquisitions should come later this year as economic confidence and financing conditions improve, says a banking executive.

    By • Sept. 21, 2023
  • Aerial view of the planned Scout Motors EV plant in Blythewood, South Carolina.
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    Courtesy of Scout Motors
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    3 manufacturing megaprojects delayed by labor, permitting issues

    Teams have hit pause on Scout Motors’ $2 billion EV plant in South Carolina and American Battery Factory’s $1.2 billion facility in Arizona.

    By • Sept. 20, 2023
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    Arturo Rosenow via Getty Images
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    Returns for apartments continue to fall

    A real estate industry report ranks the areas of the country with the most and least returns for multifamily investors.

    By Leslie Shaver • Sept. 19, 2023
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    Permission granted by Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
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    Major construction in Vegas ahead of Formula 1 race

    The city will see $8 billion worth of projects this year, including some for the Grand Prix in November.

    By • Sept. 19, 2023
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    The image by Maciek Lulko is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Q&A

    Atlanta construction exec deals with supply chain snarls

    DPR Construction’s Kali Bonnell sees positive indicators for the industry, including a strong pipeline of projects.

    By • Sept. 19, 2023
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    Freedomz/Shutterstock

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    Sponsored by Sensera Systems

    Inside contractors’ top concerns in 2023 and into 2024

    The biggest challenges facing the industry today, plus tips for thriving during uncertain times.

    Sept. 18, 2023
  • Worker prepare to lift a new pedestrian bridge into place at the Stamford Transportation Center on August 26, 2023 in Stamford, Connecticut.
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    John Moore/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction prices jump for first time in 6 months

    A surge in fuel costs pushed the building materials index higher, dashing hopes of cooling inflation.

    By • Sept. 15, 2023
  • A security guard stands vigil at the Stamford Transportation Center on August 28, 2023 in Stamford, Connecticut.
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    John Moore/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Infrastructure backlog jumps 24%, pushing demand to ‘upper end of historic levels’

    Despite a slew of headwinds, the country’s biggest contractors continue to book more new business, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.

    By • Sept. 13, 2023
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    Pgiam via Getty Images
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    Best 10 states for small business taxes

    A new report analyzed federal data to find the most tax-friendly states for small businesses such as specialty contractors, subcontractors and home builders.

    By • Sept. 12, 2023
  • Aerial view of the Northern Virginia Gateway Data Center site in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
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    Courtesy of Northern Virginia Gateway Data Center
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning posts largest drop since March

    Commercial and institutional activity are likely to continue to be constrained for the rest of 2023, as evidenced by a key index’s sixth straight decline.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • Rendering of Entek's $1.5 billion manufacturing facility in Terre Haute, Indiana
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    Courtesy of Clayco
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    Project Milestones

    Clayco breaks ground on $1.5B Indiana manufacturing plant

    The Chicago-based general contractor will self-perform the concrete foundations, flatwork, tilt-up wall panels and concrete paving on the lithium-ion battery separator materials hub.

    By • Sept. 6, 2023
  • A construction worker walks through the Stamford Transportation Center on August 28, 2023 in Stamford, Connecticut.
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    John Moore/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction spending growth looks ‘solid going forward’

    Strong nonresidential hiring numbers and several massive projects in development signal more investment ahead, according to ABC’s chief economist.

    By • Sept. 5, 2023
  • Aerial view of the QScale data center in Quebec, Canada
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    Courtesy of QScale
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    Q&A

    Data center construction rides AI wave: CBRE director

    Rapid growth in artificial intelligence is fueling data center demand.

    By • Aug. 22, 2023
  • A rendering of a tall office building made of grey stone with a blue sky in the background, and a parking area in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Division
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    Balfour Beatty profits dip on weak US office, tech sectors

    The London-based contractor said its recently strong business stateside stumbled.

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • A rendering of a large liquefied natural gas plant that spreads along a riverbed. Two ships are docked in the left side of the photo at the docks.
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    Permission granted by Bechtel
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    Economic Reports

    $12B LNG project props up construction starts in July

    Higher interest rates, labor shortages and increased material prices continue to impact the sector, said Dodge Construction Network’s chief economist.

    By • Aug. 17, 2023
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    Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Commercial, institutional projects boost construction backlog

    Contractors are signaling that demand for their services will continue to expand despite high interest rates and regional bank failures, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • Aerial view of the new computer chip factory that's being built by The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in Arizona on the North side of Phoenix.
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    Skyhobo via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Manufacturing megaprojects gobble up workers

    From Taylor, Texas, to Licking County, Ohio, multibillion-dollar factory projects are magnifying labor woes and driving up costs.

    By • Aug. 14, 2023
  • Picture of a construction worker in Tucson, Arizona, on a Sunday Construction jobsite
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    Courtesy of Associated General Contractors of America
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    Economic Reports

    Construction materials prices unchanged, signaling ‘stable’ costs ahead

    Relatively flat materials figures in recent months indicate contractors are finally experiencing relief from supply chain woes and price volatility, according to a new report.

    By • Aug. 11, 2023
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    JaysonPhotography via Getty Images
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    WSP profit, revenue, backlog jump

    CEO and President Alexandre L’Heureux said the company’s second quarter performance surpassed expectations, despite inflation and labor challenges.

    By • Aug. 10, 2023
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    Courtesy of Port of Seattle
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    AECOM reports Q3 loss despite higher revenue

    The CEO of the Dallas-based firm said inflation has increased costs for delivering infrastructure projects, but prices are beginning to stabilize.

    By • Aug. 9, 2023
  • Rendering of the $400 million Kraft Heinz distribution center in DeKalb, Illinois.
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning drops for fifth month on interest rates, lending issues

    Weaker commercial activity will counter more robust institutional ambitions for the rest of 2023, said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting for Dodge Construction Network.

    By • Aug. 8, 2023