Construction Spending Rises Year Ago, Slips from December

  • Posted on

Construction spending rose modestly in January from year-earlier levels despite retreating from a six-year high in December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that those spending gains could be at risk if Congress and the Obama administration fail to address highway funding shortfalls that once again threaten a new road repair season. “Construction continues to expand overall but with a lot of variability by month and segment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The generally positive trends are obscured by an unreliable estimate for residential improvements which purportedly shows a … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, News

OSHA Schedules Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a special meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health March 31-April 1, in Washington, D.C. The meeting will consider a draft proposal to revise OSHA's crane operator qualification requirement in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard. The tentative agenda also includes remarks from Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, OSHA's presentation of the draft proposed standard, public comments to ACCSH and the committee's   recommendation on the proposed rule. A draft of the proposed regulatory text and a summary … Read more

Filed under: News, Organizations

U.S. Construction Equipment Exports Drop 13% in 2014

  • Posted on

Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment ended 2014 with a 13.2 percent drop compared to 2013, with a total $17.26 billion shipped to global markets. U.S. exports fell to all world regions for 2014. Business to Europe, South America and Australia/Oceania was the hardest hit, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, citing U.S. Department of Commerce data it uses in global markets reports for members. Exports by World RegionYear-end 2014 U.S. construction equipment exports by major world regions compared to year-end 2013: Canada dropped 2 percent, for a total $6.66 billion South America declined 28.3 percent, for a total $2.57 … Read more

Filed under: News

National Construction Group, Local Volunteer Contractors Partner to Rebuild Veteran's Home

  • Posted on

Construction charity organization AGC Charities, Inc. is partnering with Desarrollos Metropolitanos and other local firms to rebuild the home of a partially wheelchair-bound Army veteran whose house was looted, forcing him to live in a backyard shack. As part of the charitable organization’s annual Operation Opening Doors effort, many construction firms are donating time, expertise and money to rebuild the home of Jose Quinonez. Quinonez served in the U.S. Army for over three decades and saw combat with the Special Forces in Vietnam, Somalia and Iraq. “The least we can do is make sure this decorated combat veteran can enjoy … Read more

Filed under: News

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's Survey of Economic Activity: Monthly Leasing and Finance Index

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $903-billion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for January was $6.7 billion, up 12 percent from new business volume in January 2014. Volume was down 48 percent from December, following the typical end-of-quarter, end-of-year spike in new business activity.   Receivables over 30 days were 1.1 percent, up slightly from 1 percent the previous month and from 1 percent the same period in 2014.   Charge-offs were unchanged for the … Read more

Filed under: News