Construction Spending Inches Down, Multifamily and Manufacturing Lead Sector

  • Posted on

Construction spending inched down in February from January levels but increased from a year earlier, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted the latest construction figures were held back by declining demand for single-family homes and declining public sector investment levels. “Private multifamily and nonresidential construction increased on both a monthly and year-over-year basis, while single-family and public construction spending retreated last month but still advanced from year-ago levels,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Similarly mixed results are likely to recur throughout 2015 as the economy continues to grow but potential … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, News

Construction Costs Rising Due to Stunted U.S. Construction Industry, says Report

  • Posted on

PHOENIX, Ariz. —   Rider Levett Bucknall reports that construction costs continue to rise nationwide, in part, because the overall U.S. construction industry in 2015 is smaller than it was prior to 2008 when the recession began. The firm reported its findings in its newly released First Quarter 2015 USA Construction Cost Report. “In those areas where construction activity is picking up the most, the smaller-sized industry is struggling to keep up with demand,” states Julian Anderson, president of Rider Levett Bucknall North America. “Although the actual costs of labor and materials continue to increase slowly, the growing demand and … Read more

Filed under: News

Construction Employment Increases in 45 States and D.C., 33 States Add Jobs

  • Posted on

Construction firms added jobs in 45 states and the District of Columbia between February 2014 and February 2015 while construction employment increased in 33 states between January and February, according to a recent analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that growing labor, funding and regulatory challenges may impact future jobs gains, however. “Construction employment continues to recover in many parts of the country even as some markets have a hard time stabilizing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “States like Nevada and Mississippi continue to experience significant monthly swings in … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, NewsTagged with:

New Study Finds OSHA Officials Underestimated Cost of Silica Rule for Construction Industry by $4.5B a Year

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report released by the Construction Industry Safety Coalition found that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed silica standards for the U.S. construction industry will cost the industry $5 billion per year—roughly $4.5 billion per year more than OSHA’s estimates. The coalition cautioned the flawed cost estimates reflect deeper flaws in the rule and urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach. OSHA’s proposed rule, intended to drastically reduce the permissible exposure limit of crystalline silica for the construction industry, has been underestimated by the agency to cost the construction industry about $511 million a … Read more

Filed under: News, Organizations

Brasfield & Gorrie to Build New Huntsville Water Treatment Plant

  • Posted on

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Brasfield & Gorrie has been selected to build a new greenfield water treatment plant for Huntsville Utilities in Huntsville, Alabama. Awarded the $83-million project through a competitive bidding process, the firm will begin work on the new Southeast Water Treatment Plant in March 2015.   Located on a 266-acre site near the intersection of Highway 431 and Guntersville Dam Road, the facility is expected to treat 12 million gallons of drinking water per day. The scope of the project includes a raw water intake structure, 42-inch raw water main pipelines, a conventional settling water treatment plant and … Read more

Filed under: News