D.R. Horton hits a five-year high for Q1 profits, jumps 139%

The builder reported it had its most-profitable first quarter since 2007, and pre-tax income was up 270% from a year ago.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 30, 2013

Trulia's calculus has U.S. housing a bit over halfway back to pre-crash norm

Analytical firm Trulia combines three aspects of housing data to gauge the housing market, and it showed the U.S. at 52% of normal in December.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 30, 2013

Uh-oh: Borrowers are paying off high-interest commercial mortgages

Investors who bought bought higher quality boom-years bonds based on commercial mortgages are seeing borrowers refinance and wipe out their income streams.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 29, 2013

Case-Shiller finds home prices up in 19 of 20 markets in 12-month look

The highly respected index found prices up 5.5% in its 20-city index and 4.5% in the 10-city comparison.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 29, 2013

All it takes for corporations to build green is result on bottom line

Companies have learned rapidly that following eco-friendly policies and practices is likely to have a fast payback.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 29, 2013

Home-builders see multifamily staying strong in 2013 and beyond

Panelists at the International Builders' Show see the sector that has led the housing recovery staying on an upward trajectory despite some issues.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 29, 2013

Even a dip in pending home sales is still good news

The pending home index for December fell to 101.7 from 106.3 in November, but that was still well above December 2011.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 28, 2013

States turn inward to meet transportation funding needs

There is not much chance of rising federal support, so several states are looking inward to fund their transportation construction needs.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 28, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Bio-tiles and economic recovery

Google plans its $1 billion UK headquarters while contractors feel optimistic about the end of the recession.

By Davide Savenije • Jan. 25, 2013

Industrial coatings groomed as architectural materials

Architects for commercial projects want protective coatings, like the ones used on infrastructure, to look good and meet sustainability needs.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 24, 2013

Construction starts increase in December

The total of all construction starts in 2012 was up 6%, a much steeper climb than was seen in 2010 or 2011.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 23, 2013

Home values got a nice bump in 2012, but this year should be closer to normal growth

The jump last year was almost twice the norm for a year, but do not look for that to continue this year.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2013

Home sales data for December paints nice picture for builders

Sales were down a bit in December, which could mean stock is shrinking and a wider window in opening for new construction.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2013

Construction Confidence Index slipped in 2012's second half

Compiling data for the last six months of last year showed contractors were having some doubts about continued recovery.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2013

Oregon experiments with shift from gas tax to mileage fee for road-users

An Oregon pilot project addresses issues in a switch from taxing gasoline to measuring miles to fund highway construction and maintenance.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 21, 2013

The housing recovery cannot pull the U.S. economy along with it

Even if housing starts and permits grew 20% this year, it would not be enough to bring the rest of the consumer-driven economy along with them.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 21, 2013

Contractors see a real recovery and are starting to raise headcounts again

Contractors are adding people as business begins to rise on the recovery wave, and they believe it may be real.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 18, 2013

Rental companies made almost half of U.S. equipment purchases last year

Contractors' decision to rent rather than buy equipment in uncertain times made rental companies the buyers for almost half of new equipment last year.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 17, 2013

Housing starts end 2012 at highest rate in 4½ years

Combined single-family and multifamily starts hit a pace of 954,000 units in December, a rate unseen since June 2008.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 17, 2013

Home builders stand pat on their view of the market, survey finds

 The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index stuck at its December mark this month, perhaps indicating the industry is waiting on Washington

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 17, 2013

Project targets Pittsburgh's last big former industrial site

The 178 acres that once were LTV Steel along the Monongahela River are being proposed for a tax-increment financing deal to fund a $1 billion redevelopment.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 16, 2013

Demand is easing a bit, but apartment construction growth races on

At a conference on multifamily building, market-watchers said investment is still focused on apartment development.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 16, 2013

Pentagon sharpens spending ax to be ready if Congress cannot agree on budget plan

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a public plan ready, and construction spending will take a hit.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 16, 2013

History lesson: Recoveries can be worse than recessions for contractors

The failure rate for construction businesses is three times worse during recoveries than during downturns over the last 40 years.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 15, 2013

December material prices make 2012 a surprisingly stable year overall

Prices for many used in construction held about even with the year before, though some, such as lumber and paint, were having none of that.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 15, 2013