3 economist predictions for construction industry growth in 2016

Chief economists for the NAHB, ABC and AIA offer mostly optimistic views for the coming year.

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 9, 2015

Will strong jobs report prompt a December Federal Reserve interest rate hike?

Homebuilders are keeping a close eye on interest rates, as some fear an increase would deter potential buyers from making the move from renting to owning.

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 6, 2015

NAR: Share of first-time homebuyers drops to near 3-decade low

College loans and rising rents are preventing younger people from saving money for a down payment.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 6, 2015

ENR: Top 600 specialty subcontractor revenue surges in 2014 to $93B

Specialty subs are enjoying high revenues and 18-month backlogs of work.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 5, 2015

CoreLogic: Home price growth slows, but risks remain

Economists for CoreLogic cautioned that the current pattern of home prices has led to more markets becoming "overvalued."

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 3, 2015

Realtor.com: Stable month for housing market shows 'boring can be good'

The real estate site found the residential market saw little change in October, other than the standard seasonal decline in demand and inventory.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 3, 2015

Inside the Dodge 2016 Construction Outlook: Institutional, manufacturing & public works predictions

In the second of two parts, we take a look at the more volatile sectors of Dodge's report.

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 3, 2015

Construction spending rises 0.6% with strong multifamily gains

September's increase marks the 10th-straight monthly rise in spending.

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 2, 2015

Inside the Dodge 2016 Construction Outlook: Commercial & residential predictions

In the first of two parts, we take a look at which sectors are expected to see the strongest growth next year.

By Emily Peiffer • Nov. 2, 2015

NYC to break $40B in construction spending

"The residential sector, in particular, is on a run that is nothing short of epic," NYBC President Richard T. Anderson said.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 30, 2015

Pending home sales dip as buyers take 'wait-and-see approach'

NAR economists attributed September's 2.3% decline to limited inventory, especially for lower-income and first-time buyers, as well as stock market volatility.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 29, 2015

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged — again

While homebuilders are keeping a close eye on a rate hike, which would affect mortgages, most analysts don't expect a bump until March.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 28, 2015

Condos drive 5.1% rise in year-over-year home prices

San Francisco, Denver, and Portland, OR, saw the greatest price gains, according to S&P/Case-Shiller.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 28, 2015

Homeownership rate defies predictions, inches up to 63.7% in Q3

The Census Bureau report is a positive sign that some renters decided to take the plunge into ownership during the last quarter.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 27, 2015

Zillow: Apple employees driving up Bay Area home prices

Other cities, like Seattle and Austin, TX, are also seeing tech industry growth, but available land and looser zoning regulations have kept them from extreme price increases like those in the Bay Area. 

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 27, 2015

New home sales nosedive 11.5% as market segment 'could be cooling'

Economists have attributed the drop in new home sales to "muted" wage gains, which hinder potential buyers from saving for a down payment.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 26, 2015

NAHB economists: Housing starts to reach 1.2M by 2017

The predicted increase in starts is due to pent-up demand for inventory and job growth.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 26, 2015

Existing home sales rebound as slowing price growth keeps demand 'strong and sustained'

However, first-time buyer share fell in September after reaching its highest percentage of the year in August. 

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 22, 2015

Trulia: Millennials better off buying than renting in most cities

However, as mortgage rates rise, that advantage for homeownership could diminish.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2015

'Hottest' housing market rankings dominated by FL, Pacific NW

Central New Jersey, however, came in dead last on Auction.com's list of the strongest residential markets.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2015

Only 23 states add construction jobs as demand continues to 'sap the pool of available labor'

The AGC chalks up the contraction in construction employment to a skilled labor shortage and uncertainty about project funding from Washington.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 21, 2015

Dodge: Construction starts slip as infrastructure funding uncertainty hinders growth

An economist said the fate of the current transportation bill before Congress will significantly affect the future performance of the nonbuilding sector.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 21, 2015

Where did construction workers go during industry crash?

Census Bureau researchers determined that of the construction workers who became unemployed between 2006 and 2009, 60% never returned to the industry.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 20, 2015

Housing starts surge 6.5%, but market slowdown looms ahead

A 5.0% dip in overall building permits and a 12.1% decrease in just multifamily permits signal that residential starts will cool off in the coming months.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 20, 2015

CMD: Nonresidential starts post worst September in a decade

Nonresidential starts fell 26.1% from August, driven by an 89.3% plunge in road and highways starts.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015