Money for Corps work, GSA passes House, but Senate action nil

Contractors would perhaps benefit from an increase for the Corps over the presidential request, but GSA funding was lower than was asked.

By Ron Gallagher • July 20, 2014

There's more to June's bad home construction numbers than meets the eye

The sinking numbers were the result of one region and one class of housing.

By Ron Gallagher • July 18, 2014

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

June materials price report may spell more expensive second half

Materials overall were up 0.1% from May's prices, which is not huge but continues a change from 2013's relative stability.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2014

Survey says 'missing' homebuyers are the middle-aged

Departing from the conventional explanation that the millennial generation is not buying homes, Trulia says the problem lies with 35- to 54-year-olds.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2014

Roundable sees housing construction growth through 2017, but then what?

The economy is growing, builders and finance executives said at the annual PCBC conference on the housing industry.

By Ron Gallagher • July 16, 2014

Is the Canadian housing market climbing toward a fall?

Fitch becomes the latest agency to warn that Canada should slow borrowing for home buying.

By Ron Gallagher • July 14, 2014

Downtown Seattle construction surpasses pre-recession peak

The city's downtown booster group reports that 50 projects valued at $2.8 million were underway as of June and the same number had been permitted or are "ready to begin."

By Ron Gallagher • July 10, 2014

Lamar Construction shuts down contracting operations

Based in Hudsonville, Michigan, the company said its structural steel operation will go on, but general contracting in Michigan, Kentucky and Colorado is over.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Data: 41% of homebuyers prefer to build than buy

Trulia found that 41% of homebuyers would like to own a new home than buy an existing one and more than a third of the group are ready to be swayed if builders offer the right reasons.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Pension agency report supports worry about future of multi-employer plans

Multi-employer plans are important for union builders and contractors, but the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. says it's out of resources to protect beneficiaries.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Report: Over 50% of mortgage bankers fear housing bubble

The survey done for a company that sells decision-management software, FICO, said bankers are worried, too.

By Ron Gallagher • July 8, 2014

Half of Case-Shiller duo: U.S. housing market is a 'crapshoot'

Karl Case, Wellesley College professor and half of the team that created the S&P/Case-Shiller index, says this recovery is out of sync. 

By Ron Gallagher • July 7, 2014

Why the latest job growth is no help for U.S. housing market

While the number of jobs increased, full-time jobs actually fell. 

By Ron Gallagher • July 6, 2014

Government construction jobs report for June not as rosy as ADP's

The federal jobs report listed 6,600 new construction hires last month, a day after payroll processor ADP said it counted 36,000.

By Ron Gallagher • July 6, 2014

ADP data shows June construction workforce largest since '09

Adding 36,000 workers brought total construction employment to about 6.1 million, the payroll-processing company reported as the month closed.

By Ron Gallagher • July 2, 2014

As Highway Trust Fund runs dry, DOT will stop daily payments to states

The Highway Trust Fund is rolling toward red ink and Congress has yet to add money, so the U.S. Department of Transportation is going from daily transfers to twice-a-month allocations.

By Ron Gallagher • July 1, 2014

Construction spending up a shade in May

When all was put together, total construction spending ion May was up 0.1% from April, with residential falling this time in an up-and-down pattern that may persist for the year.

By Ron Gallagher • July 1, 2014

Major change to credit-reporting could boost housing market

Two of the three credit-reporting agencies have said they will count verified rental-payment history, which may help first-time home buyers.

By Ron Gallagher • June 30, 2014

Reed forecasts 9.3% rise in total U.S. construction spending in 2014

Reed Construction Data predicts that despite the 2.9% economic contraction in the first quarter, total construction spending will rise.

By Ron Gallagher • June 26, 2014

Harvard housing report: U.S. housing market will follow, not lead, economic recovery

Missing first-time buyers remain a problem, the Joint Center for Housing Studies said in its 2014 report.

By Ron Gallagher • June 26, 2014

New home sales up 18% in May

Averaging out the year's monthly sales so far yields 445,000 sales a month – where the market was last November.

By Ron Gallagher • June 24, 2014

Is student debt to blame for drop in young homeowners?

Economists have opposing opinions on whether there is a connection between rising student loan debt and falling ownership.

By Ron Gallagher • June 24, 2014

FMI is on cautious side of 'cautious optimism' in latest forecast

The investment banking and data firm is paring back its forecast for residential construction this year. 

By Ron Gallagher • June 23, 2014

Blighted Detroit properties are selling online

The city's effort to sell houses it has seized has brought transactions on 60 homes for $1.2 million.

By Ron Gallagher • June 22, 2014

Construction jobs edge up as 30 states, DC post gains in May

In the ongoing ebb and flow of data about the economic recovery of the industry, the latest job numbers had more states gaining than losing.

By Ron Gallagher • June 22, 2014