AGC Reports Lag in November Construction Employment

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Barely one-third of states added construction jobs on either a monthly or annual basis in November, as the prospect of a more severe contraction in 2013 keeps hiring down, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials noted that the threat of the looming fiscal cliff's spending cuts and tax increases is offsetting slight growth in construction spending and keeping employment levels down. “While construction spending has been rising for over a year, contractors have held down employment levels out of fear that failure in Washington to avoid the "fiscal cliff" … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Signaling Gains for Fourth Straight Month

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Washington, D.C. — Billings at architecture firms across the country continue to increase.   As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the Architecture Billings Index reflects the approximate nine- to twelve-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.   The American Institute of Architects reported the November ABI score was 53.2, up from the mark of 52.8 in October.   This score reflects an increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).   The new projects inquiry index was 59.6, up slightly from the 59.4 mark of the previous month. You … Read more

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Haskell Acquires H.R. Gray, Expands Municipal Service Offerings

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Columbus, Ohio — H.R. Gray, a Columbus, Ohio-based firm providing program management and construction management services, was recently acquired by Haskell, a design-build firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. The acquisition will increase levels of expertise at Haskell, which works with some of America's Fortune 500 companies to develop highly efficient and cost-effective facilities. The addition of H.R. Gray will allow Haskell to provide a unique skill set to municipal clients. “This acquisition is part of a larger strategy to expand our water business,” said Pete Kinsley, vice President of Haskell's water division. “Like many parts of the country, Ohio faces … Read more

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Video Showcases New Reinforcement for Parking Garages

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A new video from AltusGroup, a North American network of 14 precast concrete manufacturers dedicated to innovation, is intended to educate parking garage owners and engineers about the use of carbon fiber grid reinforcing in the flange of precast concrete double tees. The video appears on AltusGroup's website and YouTube channel. The video details the design and production of CarbonCast Double Tees, which use C-GRID carbon fiber grid as flange reinforcement replacing conventional welded wire mesh. Because carbon fiber grid is non-corrosive and four times stronger than steel by weight, AltusGroup precasters can use less concrete cover … Read more

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AGC Reports on Construction Material Prices, Fiscal Cliff

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Construction materials costs dropped in November, aided by a plunge in diesel prices along with smaller decreases in a variety of other inputs, according to an analysis of new federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that some of the price declines may be related to the fact that the threat of the fiscal cliff is already having an impact on demand for construction and related materials. “The recent price decreases are very welcome after years of price spikes that contractors could not pass on in a weak construction market,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

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