Without immigrant buyers, U.S. home market would've looked far worse

Increasing their homeownership much more rapidly than people born in the U.S., immigrants provided activity that helped offset some of the decline in the U.S. market.

By Ron Gallagher • March 7, 2013

Transportation officials fear loss of infrastructure funds in budget deal

A Republican funding proposal floating about in Congress is not going to bring the promised support for transportation infrastructure, state officials warn.

By Ron Gallagher • March 6, 2013

Index: Confidence among commercial contractors good, not great

Consulting company FMI is out with its first quarterly index of confidence among contractors in the commercial sector, saying it is up 2.6 points from the fourth 2012 survey but is right where it was a year ago.

By Ron Gallagher • March 5, 2013

States' road, bridge contracts dropped 2.7% over past year

Figures show that the states issued contracts worth $54.3 billion in the last 12 months through January, down about 2.7% from the year-before period, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association says.

By Ron Gallagher • March 4, 2013

Residential sector to feel sequester's bite with sluggish FHA action

Commercial contractors who work for federal agencies could see reductions of $4 billion or more as the sequester's impact is felt, but residential builders may be hit, too, as buyers' commitments are slowed.

By Ron Gallagher • March 4, 2013

Nonresidential construction already hit slump before sequester

Nonresidential construction slid from December to January, while public sector work dropped over the last year as its contraction continued.

By Ron Gallagher • March 4, 2013

Sequester ax slashes federal construction

Several programs including defense construction are taking a hit while others, including highway aid programs, are exempt from what could total up to $4 billion in reductions.

By Ron Gallagher • March 2, 2013

Execs: Tech-savvy consumers drive business, demand value

Shopping-center trade group execs see a world that is moving faster, giving brands less shelf life and being led by consumers who use technology to search for value.

By Ron Gallagher • March 1, 2013

Will new-home sales' pace burn out as inventory shrinks?

New-home sales had a 15.6% jump in January, but inventory is not growing at the same pace.

By Ron Gallagher • March 1, 2013

As buildings lose 42% of energy, DOE invests $9M in efficiency research

The energy used in buildings has been falling on a per-capita basis since 2007, but the U.S. Department of Energy is funding work to find ways to keep pushing it down.

By Ron Gallagher • March 1, 2013

GSA wants feedback on which green-building rating system to use

A mandatory review is under way by the General Services Administration of whether LEED still works best for the government to build green or if its choice of Green Globes is right.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 28, 2013

Contractors voice concerns over worker shortages, immigration focus

Associated Builders and Contractors members and some of their customers are concerned that a recovery in construction will be hampered by a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 27, 2013

Existing-home sales up in January — do builders benefit?

Realtors report that demand for existing homes is growing faster than they are coming to market.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 24, 2013

In R.I., there's a chance to have a 19th-century home by living at the mall

The nation's first indoor shopping mall – built in 1828 – fell victim to the 21st-century recession, but it's being reborn as mostly tiny apartments above small shops.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 21, 2013

Housing starts down, but builders say single-family is strong and permits are up

January federal data for housing starts shows the total fell 8.5% from December's pace, but the National Association of Home Builders lays that to normal multifamily volatility, not weakness.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 21, 2013

If you're going to build it, what will make home buyers come?

Data from the National Association of Home Builders illustrates what a recession-stressed home buyer does and doesn't want.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 20, 2013

Architects' billings, a leading indicator for construction, jump in January

The Architecture Billings Index compiled by the profession's national organization, is looked as good as it has in over five years.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 20, 2013

Rising materials prices in Jan. outpaced falling ones for 0.7% net increase

Construction materials pulling prices up out-muscled those pulling the average down last month for a net rise of 0.7%.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 20, 2013

Commercial construction outlook: Better flat than backsliding

The backlog of signed commercial construction deals stuck at eight months from the third to the fourth quarters of 2012, and ABC expects that to remain the same through the first part of this year.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 19, 2013

Analysts see many real house-price recoveries, but some states worry

Capital Economics, an analytical firm, says several states are having sustainable recoveries, but a few and the District of Columbia look overvalued.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 18, 2013

Big name backing big project brings approval in Michigan

Knowing the pain of disinvestment and downturn all too well, Michigan has approved a proposal by a group of investors that includes native son Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 15, 2013

The big mo is behind U.S. motels

There appears to be no doubt among hotel investors that the industry has a bright U.S. future.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 15, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Labor, Obama and Lumber

Feel like you fell behind on the construction news this week? Get up to date with our recent popular reads.

By Brian Warmoth • Feb. 15, 2013

Obama calls for public-private push to upgrade roads, bridges, schools

Contractors may benefit if Congress agrees with a program of public-private partnerships for infrastructure improvements that President Obama suggested.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 13, 2013

Index for nonresidential construction rises based on industry interviews

An index compiled by consulting firm FMI is at 58.1 for the first quarter of the year, up from 2012's closing quarter.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 13, 2013