Report: $1.1T spending bill to trigger a 'substantial lift' in construction

The General Services Administration's construction budget was tripled to $1.6 billion in the omnibus legislation, and the Department of Veterans Administration's construction funding was doubled to $1.2 billion.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

Dodge Data: Nov. construction starts slip 5%

Nonresidential projects saw the sharpest month-over-month decline of all three sectors, with a 13% drop to $175.4 billion.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

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Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

By Construction Dive staff

AGC: Booming demand drives Nov. construction employment growth in 38 states

The association's chief economist Ken Simonson said the skilled worker shortage is keeping job gains from growing at a more rapid pace. 

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

Shaquille O'Neal assists launch of NJ construction training program

The first stop for many of the Newark, NJ, Project IMPACT trainees will be Shaq's long-delayed residential skyscraper.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 17, 2015

ABC: South posts 'highest level of backlog in history'

The national backlog average remained unchanged in the third quarter, as the association noted companies of every size continue to be hindered by the skilled labor shortage.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 17, 2015

ENR survey: Construction companies to offer more raises in 2016

Respondents indicated that specialty trade contractor employees can expect the highest average pay hike, at 4.25%.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 17, 2015

Federal Reserve to raise interest rates

Despite the inevitable rise in mortgage rates as a result of the Fed decision, Jonathan Smoke, chief economist with Realtor.com, said, "We’re months if not years away from the type of high rates that would pose substantial risk to home sales."

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 16, 2015

Zillow: Fed rate hike won't deter most homebuyers

However, the real estate site's survey found respondents indicated they might consider a less expensive home if mortgage interest rates rose to 4.5%.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 16, 2015

Report: Steep housing prices behind Toyota's move from CA to TX

After hearing complaints from employees, the car company found that housing costs in Torrance, CA, are three times more expensive per square foot than in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, according to an insider.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 16, 2015

Housing starts soar 10.5% as market is 'gaining momentum'

The positive results were a welcome reprieve after the 11% plunge in October.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 16, 2015

Builder confidence dips, but 'consistent recovery' continues

All three HMI components fell in December, as sales expectations dipped two points, current sales conditions lost one point and buyer traffic declined two points. 

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 15, 2015

NAHB: Construction workers older than overall US workforce

According to 2013 Census data, states with the highest median construction worker age include Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 15, 2015

Construction labor shortage update: Don't overlook 'the long game'

AGC, NAHB and ABC experts said that despite recent positive jobs reports, the industry needs to focus on a more long-term problem: an aging workforce.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 15, 2015

CMD: Nov. construction starts down a seasonal 2.5%

Last month's starts were up 1.6% from November 2014 and 9.4% higher than the average November starts for the last five years.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 14, 2015

ABC: Construction material prices slide for 5th-straight month

The association's chief economist said prices could start to soon level off, but there likely will not be a major bump in prices anytime soon. 

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 11, 2015

NYC named world's most expensive city for construction

Arcadis chalks up the high building costs to strong currency and resource constraints.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 10, 2015

BLS: Construction sector to add 790K jobs over next 10 years

Despite the major additions, the agency noted that employment in the industry "is not projected to return to the 2006 peak."

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 10, 2015

Zillow: San Francisco housing market reaching 'bubble' status

The fact that housing experts are now willing to use the word "bubble" in reference to the Bay Area and a few other markets is raising concerns in the industry.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 10, 2015

10 hottest housing markets for millennials in 2016

Realtor.com also listed the five markets where members of the younger generation are least likely to buy homes, mostly due to lack of growth in the area.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 9, 2015

Survey: AEC firms 'stymied' by shortage of experienced professionals

In the BD+C report, 16.3% of respondents said their company had to delay or completely turn down a project due to the inability to find qualified people to manage it.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 9, 2015

Dodge Momentum Index dips for 2nd consecutive month

However, the firm noted that the index is now "more consistent with the gentle upward trend in planning activity that began in 2012."

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 8, 2015

Trulia: 'Pessimism is creeping back into the housing market' as down payments hinder ownership

The site predicted that in 2016, the "costly coast" markets in the West and Northeast will cool, but the "bargain belt" of the South and Midwest will boom.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 7, 2015

Construction sector dominates Nov. employment report with 46K jobs added

Construction saw the great job gains of any other industry last month, as the overall economy added 211,000 jobs.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 4, 2015

Realtor.com: 10 housing markets to watch in 2016

Surprisingly, San Francisco, Denver and Dallas did not make the list this year, as those markets are expected to experience a slowdown in price appreciation and possible declining sales.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 3, 2015

CoreLogic: Home prices rise 1.0% as threat remains of 'homes becoming unaffordable for many'

The October increase came as a surprise, as CoreLogic had previously predicted prices would slightly fall amid an overall slowdown.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 1, 2015