ABC Predicts Continued Construction Industry Growth in 2015

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors forecasts a steady and ongoing economic recovery for the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industries in 2015. The reasonably brisk industry recovery in 2014 should continue in 2015, with momentum especially growing in segments closely related to the current American energy and industrial production resurgence. “ABC forecasts nonresidential construction spending will expand by roughly 7.5 percent next year,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The segments that will experience the largest growth in construction spending in 2015 include power (e.g., natural gas-related construction), lodging (leisure and business spending), office space (professional services employment … Read more

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Equipment Leasing and Finance Industry Confidence at Six-Month High

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has released the November 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $903-billion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 64.2, an increase from the October index of 60.4 and the highest level since May.   When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Valerie Hayes Jester, President, Brandywine Capital Associates, Inc., said, “The … Read more

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Construction Spending, Public-Sector Demand for Construction Increase

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Construction spending increased in October amid growing public-sector demand for construction and continued modest growth in residential, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new spending figures underscore the need for measures to increase the supply of qualified construction workers as firms worry about growing labor shortages. “Today’s data shows that construction growth remains volatile,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While overall construction spending jumped by more than one percent in October, the gain followed two months of stagnation. Public construction was the fastest-growing segment for the month but the … Read more

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Construction Employment Doing Well in Most of the Country, States AGC

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Construction firms added jobs in 37 states and the District of Columbia between October 2013 and October 2014, while construction employment increased in 28 states and the District of Columbia between September and October, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted the sector’s recovery is erratic and remains vulnerable to factors like growing labor shortages, new regulatory burdens and stagnant public sector demand. “These year-over-year and one-month changes show that construction is doing well in most of the country,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet, … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Index Slowly Rises

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RALEIGH, N.C. — FMI announced the release of the 2014 Fourth Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index report. The NRCI shows a slight increase from 62.5 in the third quarter to 62.8 in the fourth quarter of 2014. This is nearly 5.5 points ahead of fourth quarter 2013. An NRCI greater than 50 indicates improvement or expansion. There are many good reasons for optimism by NRCI survey respondents this quarter. The top-three are: businesses are starting to build again, backlogs are expanding and future business looks good with low inflation. A close fourth is a sense of financial security with improved balance … Read more

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