Construction Spending Posts Strong Monthly, Year-Over-Year in January

Construction spending soared in January from a month earlier and all major segments posted hefty year-over-year gains, pushing the total to the highest level since October 2008, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new spending figures indicate that demand for construction remains robust amid broader economic concerns. “There were solid gains for both the month and year in apartment, nonresidential and highway construction,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Although favorable weather may have boosted these results, demand for many types of projects remains strong despite worries that the … Read more

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Brasfield & Gorrie Receives Honors for Excellence in Construction

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Brasfield Brasfield & Gorrie recently was honored by the Alabama chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. Two of the company’s projects were honored with BuildSouth Awards at a ceremony on Jan. 15, at The Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The projects honored included projects that were completed on the Airbus campus in Mobile, Alabama: a central utility plant and a construction package including the build-out of the A320 final assembly line hangar, service building and logistics center. Selected by Honeywell Building Solutions, Brasfield & Gorrie served as the design-builder for the construction of a central utility plant that feeds … Read more

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Construction Firms Add 18,000 Workers in January, Unemployment Falls to 17-Year Low

Construction firms added 18,000 workers in January, as the industry’s unemployment rate declined to a 17-year low of 8.5 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the number of construction jobs added in January was down compared to the last three months of 2015 and could reflect either a slowdown in nonresidential construction activity or an inability of contractors to find qualified workers. “While the construction industry continues to add jobs, the January figures mark a significant decline in the rate of growth compared to the end … Read more

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Construction Spending Ends Year on Mixed Note

Construction spending inched up in December from a month earlier and increased solidly over the year but the major components showed divergent trends, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that slowdown in spending in a number of key, private nonresidential categories could reflect broader financial uncertainty and undermine the sector’s recovery. “Home and apartment construction continued growing strongly while public construction, particularly for highways, has also advanced,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But spending on most private nonresidential categories has stalled or turned negative in the past several months. Contractors … Read more

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Strong Demand for Construction Continues in Most States, Reports AGC

Forty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs in 2015 while construction employment increased in 39 states and D.C. between November and December amid strong demand for construction in most states, according to analysis of Labor Department data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that many of the states experiencing construction declines appear to be energy-producing states. “Construction employment expanded in most parts of the country last year as demand for new projects rebounded,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO for the association. “The question now is whether declining energy prices will impact … Read more

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