Tag: housing: Page 3

Business

Construction spending up 0.2% in March as homebuilding hits highest pace in nearly 6 years

U.S. construction spending was up slightly in March due mainly to increases in private residential construction, now at its highest rate in nearly six years. Total spending rose in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $942.5 billion, up 0.2 percent from the revised February figure of $940.7 billion. Due to the revision of […]

May 1, 2014

Business

Despite slow start to 2014 and concerns, top construction economists forecast growth in spending and jobs

The outlook from respected economists in the construction industry continues to be mixed as all the elements for growth are there but several factors could limit or hurt the industry’s ongoing recovery. Bernard Markstein, chief economist at Reed Construction Data, Kermit Baker, chief economist at the American Institute of Architects and Ken Simonson, chief economist […]

April 17, 2014

Business

Home starts up 2.8% in March, builder confidence up slightly

Home starts rose 2.8 percent in March due to an increase in single-family homes, signaling what many analysts hope to be an end to construction slowdowns caused by the harsh winter weather. U.S. home starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000 from February’s revised rate of 920,000. February’s figure was revised upward […]

April 16, 2014

Business

Homebuilding declines but construction spending up 0.1% in February

Construction spending in the U.S. ticked up 0.1 percent in February despite a decline in homebuilding, according to preliminary data from the Commerce Department. Total spending rose in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $945.7 billion from the revised January figure of $944.6 billion. Due to the revision of that figure, what was a […]

April 1, 2014

Business

Construction expected to grow 8% this year with “groundhog”-like growth from nonresidential

Construction industry consultant FMI has released what it calls a “cautiously optimistic” outlook for the industry in 2014 in its latest quarterly report. The report predicts construction put-in-place to grow 8 percent this year and for the next few years. “Just like the spring, despite all odds and nasty economic weather, the nation needs to […]

March 27, 2014

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Housing starts fall 0.2% in February as builder confidence rises slightly

Despite a large upward revision to January’s number, housing starts fell slightly in February, according to preliminary data from the Commerce Department. The Commerce Department revised January’s number to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 909,000—up 29,000 from the rate of 880,000 reported last month. February home starts fell 0.2 percent to a preliminary rate of […]

March 18, 2014

Business

Divergence of construction spending and employment could point to “fundamental change” in the industry

Recently, the folks at Business Insider put together a nicely done and comprehensive article on the skilled labor shortage affecting the construction industry and the impact it’s having on homebuilding. There wasn’t much new news to be found for those of us who follow these stories on a regular basis. Many of the experienced and […]

March 17, 2014

Business

Housing starts fall 16% in January after major revision to December estimate

Housing starts in the U.S. suffered a large fall in January, according to preliminary data from the Commerce Department. Housing starts were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 880,000, 16 percent below the revised December estimate of 1.048 million. The January figure is 2 percent below the January 2013 figure of 915,000. That December figure […]

February 19, 2014

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No. 2 in 2013: Construction employment and housing starts hit multi-year highs

It took a bit of time, but it looks like our industry is finally starting to hit its stride as it recovers from the recession. While both statistics saw a few ups and downs this year, the latest reports on housing starts and employment available before the end of this year show strong improvements over […]

December 30, 2013

Business

Construction booming in Texas thanks to solid economy

A recent report from Business Investors Daily takes an in-depth look at the booming construction industry in Texas, saying the state’s expanding economy is driving the boom. Noting the fact that the state “sat out of the housing bubble” and is currently enjoying the benefits of an energy boom as well, the report notes that […]

November 14, 2013

Business

Housing starts up 0.9% as decreases in apartment starts, permits detract from single-family performance

Following a few months of ups and downs, U.S. construction starts on new homes are showing signs of stabilizing a bit with a second consecutive month of gains in August. New home starts rose 0.9 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000, according to preliminary data from the Commerce Department on […]

September 18, 2013

Business

Rising materials costs, labor shortage, financing woes preventing apartment builders from meeting demand

As we reported last Friday, construction on new homes was up 6 percent in July largely thanks to a 26-percent jump in apartment construction. And that’s been the case for just about the entire year. Any time there’s a gain in overall home starts, apartments are the main contributor. And as we told you back […]

August 19, 2013