New analysis puts U.S. home-prices rise at 11.3% in Q4

The CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of home prices calculated the increase when comparing the end of 2013 with the year-before period.

By Ron Gallagher • May 14, 2014

Why is innovation rare in nonresidential construction?

Data company FMI's Nonresidential Construction Index rose a bit for the current quarter, but productivity was down.

By Ron Gallagher • May 14, 2014

Unraveling the contradiction about first-time home buyers

Young people make up about the same percentage of first-time homebuyers as they have in the past. Yet they are buying fewer houses in total. What gives?

By Ron Gallagher • May 14, 2014

Obama to visit Tappan Zee Bridge work site

The president is making the Wednesday visit to the New York-area site to call on Congress to back his transportation package.

By Randy Lilleston • May 13, 2014

Gilbane: Total construction spending will end year up 6.6%

The contractor's quarterly report says its economy-watchers see spending rising after May.

By Ron Gallagher • May 12, 2014

Japan in same boat as U.S. with construction-worker shortages

Immigration remains a contentious issue in Japan, but contractors are feeling the pinch of not finding the domestic workers they need.

By Ron Gallagher • May 12, 2014

Report: Climate change damaging U.S. infrastructure

The new National Climate Assessment says weather extremes from climate change already are wreaking damage, with the effects expected to get worse in coming decades.

By Randy Lilleston • May 12, 2014

Corruption plagues construction for Brazil's World Cup

The world's second-most expensive soccer stadium is being built in a city with no real professional soccer team.

By Davide Savenije • May 12, 2014

LA's $5.7B construction budget moves forward

The proposed outlay is still over-budget, but less so than when it was first introduced.

By Davide Savenije • May 9, 2014

NAHB: Home building tax breaks vital for jobs

Testifying about job creation and what home building does, the builders' group urged Congress to preserve the mortgage-interest deduction and low-income tax credits.

By Ron Gallagher • May 7, 2014

Labor shortage hits Larimer County, CO

Builders and contractors who survived the recession needs tradesmen desperately, but there are few to be had in Larimer County.

By Ron Gallagher • May 7, 2014

NJ's 'ugliest building' is back from the dead

Mall of America's owner plans to spend $2 billion finally getting the dormant American Dream mall project built. 

By Ron Gallagher • May 6, 2014

Buyers prefer new homes to existing ones

Trulia, the real estate data company, commissioned the survey, which also found that people who would prefer a new house to an old one are not excited about paying more to get it.

By Ron Gallagher • May 6, 2014

Analysts see home prices settling down

The days of double-digit percentage rises in home prices are likely gone, and houses will settle in an annual price appreciation of 3% to 5%, according to Clear Capital.

By Ron Gallagher • May 5, 2014

Construction jobs go to some old faces, some new ones

Contractors are sometimes able to rehire employees who left during the recession, but lots of rookies are coming on board, too.

By Ron Gallagher • May 4, 2014

Single- and multifamily help total U.S. spending rise

Spending on single-family and multifamily construction in March, aided by some parts of nonresidential, eked out a 0.2% rise in total spending.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Nonresidential construction spending slowed in March

Federal numbers out Thursday show spending in March, measured as an annual rate, was down in nine of 16 categories.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

U.S. home ownership rate hits 19-year low

The tough jobs recovery is part of the reason that only 64.8% of households were owner-occupied homes in the first quarter of this year.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Confused global copper market works to contractors' benefit

Lower prices for wire and transformers are helping restrain the IHS PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Texas school construction costs total $14B over last 7 years

A database created by state Comptroller Susan Combs shows how local schools spent on construction over the past seven years.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Bad omens: Architects' billings fall in March index

The index, a leading indicator of construction, slipped under 50 last month after going up for two months, putting an increased focus on this month's results.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Research finds people in U.S. move less for jobs now

This has an impact on demand for new homes.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Construction employment up in 197 U.S. metro areas

Despite the gains, a breakdown of federal jobs data shows few areas are back to where they were before the recession.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

How new immigration policies can help construction

Skilled and unskilled, workers are in short supply – sometimes no supply – for construction, and builders are advocates for doing something – anything – to address the problem.

By Ron Gallagher • April 25, 2014

March sales sag for new homes

The annual sales pace for newly built homes last month was 14.5% below February and 13.3% below a year ago.

By Ron Gallagher • April 24, 2014