Turner’s Second Quarter Building Cost Index Reflects Busy Construction Market

  • Posted on

Turner Construction Company announced that the Second Quarter 2017 Turner Building Cost Index—which measures costs in the nonresidential building construction market in the United States—has increased to a value of 1031. This represents a 1.18 percent quarterly increase from the first quarter 2017 and a 4.88 percent yearly increase from the second quarter 2016. The second quarter has seen relatively consistent cost increases across the country, with raw material prices continuing to make moderate gains – particularly among aluminum materials. Engineered products have also seen moderate gains. Additionally, fuel costs have remained relatively flat, having little effect on costs. “The […]

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

Architecture Firms End Second Quarter on Strong Note

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the fifth consecutive month, architecture firms recorded increasing demand for design services as reflected in the June Architecture Billings Index. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the June ABI score was 54.2, up from a score of 53.0 in the previous month. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.6, down from a reading of 62.4 the previous […]

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , , ,

Construction Sector Adds 16,000 Jobs in June

  • Posted on

Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in June to the highest level since October 2008, signaling a new burst of hiring after three months of pause, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged federal, state and local lawmakers to enact measures to make it easier for school officials, local associations and construction firms to set up construction training programs. “Construction firms added employees over the past year at nearly double the rate of the overall economy, but the record-low unemployment rate for construction workers shows companies are having to […]

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with: ,

Dodge Momentum Index Moves Higher in June

  • Posted on

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index took another step forward in June, increasing 1.1 percent to 141.1 (2000=100) from its revised May reading of 139.6. The momentum index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. June’s lift was due to a 4.8 percent advance by the institutional component of the momentum index, while the commercial component fell 1.3 percent. The momentum index has exhibited substantial strength since mid-2016, with the institutional and commercial components […]

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with: ,

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in 2017

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The most recent Construction Backlog Indicator from the Associated Builders and Contractors rose to 9 months during the first quarter of 2017, up 8.1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. CBI is up by .4 months, or 4 percent, on a year-over-year basis. Highlights by Region Surging financial markets helped support activity in financial centers like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Expanding cyber-security and life sciences activity supported markets as geographically diverse as Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland; Austin, Texas; Silicon Valley, California and Seattle, Washington. Though backlog is slightly lower in the South on a year-over-year basis, it […]

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with: ,