Economy: Page 111
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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 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Permission granted by Associated General Contractors of America
TrendlineLabor
A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.
By Construction Dive staff -
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 -
Analyst: Too much 'friction' will keep home-building down
Fitch Ratings thinks home construction will get it in gear this year, but another analyst says there are too many things gumming up the engine.
By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014 -
First-time buyers for existing homes stuck in 30% range
The National Association of Realtors said the March annual rate of existing-home sales was on a plateau as well.
By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014 -
Construction rises 7% in March after two troubled months
Total starts were up 7% from February, but the first quarter wound up being down 2% from 2013, and weather is again catching much of the blame.
By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014 -
Merrill Lynch trims expectations for 2014 housing starts
The financial firm says it is shaving its prediction for housing starts to 1.03 million in 2014 while it waits to see if the pickup from late 2013 has legs.
By Ron Gallagher • April 21, 2014 -
Housing data indicative of bubble or healthy market?
Differing interpretations of home prices, housing affordability and lending activity lead economists to very different conclusions about the U.S. residential market.
By Ron Gallagher • April 21, 2014 -
Economists: 2014 construction outlook is mostly sunny
Three economists agree the economy is doing better, but they had some differences on where housing will go this year.
By Ron Gallagher • April 20, 2014 -
March construction employment figures changed little from Feb.
Federal data showed 24 states and the District of Columbia added jobs, but 23 states lost them.
By Ron Gallagher • April 20, 2014 -
Report: Oil and gas will employ 10% of construction workforce by 2017
FMI figures the ever-burgeoning energy industry that employed 6.4% of construction workers in 2012 will keep needing more.
By Ron Gallagher • April 17, 2014 -
Home starts turn sunnier as weather gets warmer
Government figures show March housing starts had such a post-winter boom that they drove the national figure up 2.8% from February.
By Ron Gallagher • April 16, 2014 -
Tenn. highway plans come with a warning about federal funds
The state warned there will be major revisions if the federal Highway Trust Fund is not rescued. Congress and the White House have not yet agreed on a plan to extend the fund beyond the fiscal year.
By Ron Gallagher • April 15, 2014 -
Las Vegas has fewer, but healthier, builders
Southern Nevada lost nearly half of the builders who were most active in 2006, but their post-recession status is improving.
By Ron Gallagher • April 14, 2014 -
Three categories drive March materials prices rise
Increases in nonferrous wire and cable, concrete and asphalt products were enough to produce a 0.5% uptick in the whole materials calculation.
By Ron Gallagher • April 13, 2014 -
Home builders: 59 of 350 U.S. markets at or above pre-recession conditions
The National Association of Home Builders said its most recent Leading Market Index shows the recovery is happening outside the energy-rich states.
By Ron Gallagher • April 9, 2014 -
Bridge, highway contractors suffer shrinking profit margins
An analysis by financial-services company Sageworks found that other types of contractors have enjoyed rising margins in recent years.
By Ron Gallagher • April 7, 2014 -
Forecast: Steel prices to rise 2.2% for next three years
Australian consulting company IBISWorld is out with a report predicting steel, and thus products made from it, will see a 2.2%-per-year rise starting next year.
By Ron Gallagher • April 3, 2014 -
Nonresidential construction sees small growth in February
In the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures, half of the noncommercial sectors were up and half were down with a net gain of 0.6%.
By Ron Gallagher • April 1, 2014 -
Office demand growing, but unlikely to spur much construction
The growth of the U.S. office market is nice, but it still isn't as much as years past.
By Ron Gallagher • April 1, 2014 -
Is the Federal Reserve OK with declining home sales?
Two Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts say they think the big bank may accept declining home sales as a price of tapering its purchase of securities.
By Ron Gallagher • March 31, 2014
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