Wells Fargo subsidiary bullish on construction in 2013

The bank's subsidiary that finances contractors' purchases has an Optimism Quotient that is in positive territory this year.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Jan. boost in highway construction may not pave way for turnaround

Highway construction put in place rose 4% in January from 2012, but the industry is still smarting from a annual decline of 4% for all of 2012.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

Report: Green buildings can make more money for real estate investors

The World Green Building Council lays out reasons it believes sustainable, efficient buildings make for better real estate investments.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Feb. materials price increase steepest in almost two years

Soft lumber prices stood 27% above February 2012, offsetting some commodities that were down over the last 12 months, for a 1.3% overall rise.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Recovering economy gives contractors hope — but is it just an illusion?

At AGC's annual meeting, words of encouragement were accompanied by words of caution.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Program financing nursing-facility makeovers may benefit contractors

A new national program by CapitalSource targets nursing facility renovations and repairs in an aging U.S. could bring construction work .

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Senate hopes to restore highway funds

The Senate's version of the "continuing resolution" to fund the government – what the U.S. has come to do instead of passing a budget every year – seeks to protect transportation.

By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2013

What will highway building look like without federal funds?

Politicians do not cut ribbons on repair projects, and the Highway Trust Fund is dwindling, so what might transportation construction might look like down the road (or rail, or bike path).

By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2013

Nonresidential index hits 100 for first time in 34 months

McGraw-Hills Dodge Momentum Index of what's in the works in nonresidential construction reached a mark last month that it has not seen since April 2010.

By Ron Gallagher • March 7, 2013

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