ABC: Nonresidential Spending Up Slightly in Oct.
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors National nonresidential spending increased 0.1 percent in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released. Total nonresidential spending for the month stood at $763.8B on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, which represents a 7.3 percent increase over the same time last year. Thirteen […]
Ariz. Ranks 3rd on Core Construction Industry Criteria
By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Arizona’s strength as a leading construction industry market got another boost this week, as it landed in third place among the 50 states and the District of Columbia on the 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard issued by Associated Builders and Contractors. The scorecard is, “an annual state ranking based on […]
Construction Labor Market Still Jumps
By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Three recent reports show the economy is buzzing right along, but more frequent concerns are being expressed. The first, a Nelson J. Schwartz article published in the New York Times, pointed out the economy added 223,000 jobs in May – 33,000 more than experts had expected – to […]
Nonres. Const. Employment Ends 2017 Up
Source Associated Builders and Contractors The nonresidential construction sector added 11,800 net new jobs in December, representing nearly 10 percent of the nation’s jobs created during the month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nation’s overall construction sector added 30,000 net new jobs […]
Const. Spending Rises in October; Flat YoY
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors Nonresidential construction spending rose 2.1 percent in October, totaling $717.6B on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The level of spending, however, remains virtually unchanged from a year ago. Ten of the sixteen subcategories experienced positive […]
Const.’s Economic Contribution at 7 Yr. High
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors According to a report released by Associated Builders and Contractors, the private construction industry’s value added as a percentage of the nation’s real gross domestic product rose to 4 percent in 2016, the highest level since 2009. The report also shows annual growth in real construction spending, which rose 3.5 percent […]
Const. Unemployment Improves in 35 States
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in August, down 0.4 percent from a year ago and the lowest August rate on record, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Unemployment rates were also down in 35 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis today by Associated Builders […]
Construction Down, Hiring Up, Experts Puzzled
By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Construction industry vicissitudes continue to leave pundits, experts and those who cover them scratching their heads. Last month, we asked for thoughts on some confusing trends and indicators in construction spending, unemployment and material costs. The gist of most responses was, “Good question. I don’t know either.” (AZBEX, […]
Executive Order Aims to Simplify Permitting
By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange About the only thing that hasn’t been covered in the tumult following President Trump’s Tuesday press conference, where he announced a new executive order to simplify the infrastructure project permitting process, has been the actual details of the order, itself. Calling the permitting process, “Badly broken,” Trump noted […]