AIA/Deltek Release Latest Architecture Billings Index

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Architecture firm billings remained soft entering into 2024, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index score of 46.2 in January. Any score below 50 indicates decreasing business conditions. “This now marks the lengthiest period of declining billings since 2010, although it is reassuring that the pace of this decline is less rapid and the broader economy showed improvement in January,” said Kermit Baker, Ph.D., AIA Chief Economist. “Firms are seeing growth with inquiries into new projects and value of newly signed design contracts is holding steady, showing potential signs of interest from clients in new projects.” Business conditions remained weak at … Read more

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2024 Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half Million, Says ABC

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The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor, according to a proprietary model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2025, the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year. “ABC estimates that the U.S. construction industry needs to attract about a half-million new workers in 2024 to balance supply and demand,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and … Read more

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ABC: Monthly Construction Input Prices Surge 1%

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Construction input prices increased 1% in January compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.9% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 0.4% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction materials prices are 0.7% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum input prices were up 6.1%, while unprocessed energy materials prices were up 3.8%. Natural gas prices decreased 2.4% in January. “Construction materials prices surged in January, ending a … Read more

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AIA Releases Construction Forecast: Healthcare Construction to See Modest Gains Through 2025

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Spending on nonresidential buildings will see a modest 4% increase in 2024, after increasing by more than 20% last year according to The American Institute of Architects’ latest Consensus Construction Forecast. The pace will slow to just over 1% growth in 2025, a marked difference from the strong performance in 2023. Although construction spending in the nonresidential building sector is projected to be at a slower pace through 2025, healthcare construction spending is projected to see gains. Although modest, the sector is expected to increase 3.6% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025. Complete details can be found at aia.org. The … Read more

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Improving Project Efficiency in the New Year

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Increase productivity, lower costs + reduce waste High inflation and labor shortages is a major challenge for many industries, and no more so than in the construction & engineering sector, where productivity has historically always been low. Should you increase revenue? Difficult, especially in a competitive bidding environment. So, can you reduce costs? Kenny Ingram, vice president of construction and engineering, IFS, argues that C&E firms can improve project efficiency by increasing productivity, lowering costs and reducing waste. And it’s not all just about tackling labor issues – that’s just one interrelated issue, as he explains. The construction industry has … Read more

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