Tag: business: Page 44

Business

Construction spending dips 0.8% in August due to fall in nonresidential

U.S. construction spending saw its second dip of the year in August, falling 0.8 percent. Spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $961 billion in August, according to preliminary estimates in a report from the Commerce Department. In addition to August’s dip, the report revised downward the rates for the previous two months […]

October 1, 2014

Construction Equipment

FAA’s new air traffic control system doesn’t support drones; doubts over commercial flight regs increase

Despite a directive from Congress to do so, when designing the new $5 billion program that will replace the current air traffic control system, the Federal Aviation Administration did not include drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as aircraft the system supports. The FAA’s failure to do so has raised questions and more doubt over its […]

September 29, 2014

Business

It’s time for contractors to start financial planning for 2015. Here are 3 tips to get you started

Now that the construction busy season is winding down, it’s time to turn your attention to those housekeeping tasks you need to do each year in the fourth quarter. You need to step back and take a critical look at your company in preparation for planning for 2015. Not sure what to do? Here are […]

September 29, 2014

Business

PCA forecasts steady growth for cement consumption through 2016 as construction activity increases

According to the latest forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), cement consumption in the U.S. will see steady gains over the next three years. As far back as the World of Concrete show in January and again in the Spring, PCA chief economist Ed Sullivan has forecasted 8-percent growth in cement consumption and that […]

September 25, 2014

Business

New ARTBA awards program to honor construction firms who serve their communities

Construction firms intent on giving back to their communities may now be honored for their good works. The Transportation Development Foundation, an American Road and Transportation Builders Association foundation that promotes research, education and public awareness, is launching the Helping Hand Awards, which recognizes transportation design, construction and safety firms that improve the quality of […]

September 19, 2014

Business

Home starts dive 14.4% in August but homebuilder confidence rises to nearly 9-year high

Another down month in August continued what has been a very up-and-down year for construction of new homes in the U.S., largely thanks to the volatility of new apartment starts. Despite the drop, homebuilder confidence in the market rose to its highest reading since November 2005. Following a gain of 8.6 percent in July, home […]

September 18, 2014

Business

3 tips for boosting employee relations at your construction company

For construction company owners and supervisors, managing a team can be tricky. Often there’s a distinct separation between “in the field” and “in the office”—a situation that can create opportunities for miscommunication and a sense of isolation. This doesn’t mean you’re treating your employees poorly. Even if you treat them quite well, keeping employee relations […]

September 17, 2014

Business

BlueLine Rental acquires Alabama’s JustRuss Rental

BlueLine Rental, formerly Volvo rents,  is growing its presence in the state of Alabama. The small- to medium-sized construction rental equipment provider announced the acquisition of JustRuss Rental Inc. JustRuss is a full-service equipment rental company with three locations in Alabama. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. BlueLine CEO Phil Hobson said the deal […]

September 17, 2014

Business

Is construction “dead in the water”? Greenspan comment highlights industry’s mixed feelings about recovery

Despite many positives in the industry right now, Alan Greenspan is pointing a finger of blame in construction’s direction. According to a report from Bloomberg, Greenspan, who served as chairman of the Federal Reserve between 1987 and 2006, said Tuesday the U.S. economic rebound from the recession that ended five years ago has been held […]

September 10, 2014

Construction Equipment

Construction equipment among quickest recovering industries from recession; contributes the economic value of an entire state

According to a new study of the construction equipment industry released Tuesday by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the industry was among the quickest to recover from the throes of the Great Recession and contributes nearly four times its market share in value to the U.S. economy. Sanctioned by AEM and authored by Inforum, an […]

September 9, 2014

Business

Don’t mistake our Contractor of the Year program as just another giveaway

Yes, our 12 finalists get a free weekend in Las Vegas. And it’s true they get VIP treatment from sponsor Caterpillar at the NASCAR Las Vegas race: tent hospitality, driver autographs, pit tours are all included. But what really makes this program dear to the hearts of past finalists is the chance to interact with […]

September 8, 2014

Business

Construction industry extends employment streak, adds 20,000 jobs in August

The U.S. construction industry extended its streak of job gains in August, adding 20,000 workers. It was the eighth-straight month of gains for the industry which now employs 6.068 million Americans—the highest figure since May 2009, according to data from the Labor Department. The new data also revised upward the July employment number from 6.041 […]

September 5, 2014