Construction + Economy

After a hiatus of several months, NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America is back. The EBCI measured 56.3 in October, down slightly from 56.7 in June, the last time the index was released, but still showing signs of improvement in the business environment. Respondents remained optimistic on balance regarding [...]

Showing a steady increase in the demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) continues to accelerate, as it reached its second highest level of the year. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American [...]

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) showed more acceleration in the growth of design activity nationally. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the August ABI score was 53.8, up from [...]

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) saw a jump of more than a full point in July 2013, indicating acceleration in the growth of design activity nationally. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of [...]

New construction starts are forecast to rise 6% this year to $506 billion, according to the mid-year update to the 2013 Construction Outlook from McGraw-Hill Construction. This is the same rate of increase for total construction starts that was predicted last October, and follows the 8% gain that took place in 2012. “The recovery for [...]

With slower than expected activity in the nonresidential construction sector in the first half of the year, the projections for growth in spending have been scaled back. Led by the hotel and retail project categories, the commercial sector looks largely unchanged, but a noteworthy drop in demand for institutional projects has caused participants in the [...]

Phil Warner, Research Consultant for FMI Corporation, says improvement in residential construction is the primary area of growth in the firm’s latest construction forecast: Most other sectors, while still improving over 2012, are growing at a somewhat slower rate. One of the reasons for this slow growth continues to be uncertainty caused by the federal [...]

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index increased in the first quarter of 2013 following a 3.4 gain in the fourth quarter of 2012, growing 5.4 percent on a quarter-to-quarter basis and by 3.8 percent on a year-over-year basis. Lighting equipment demand has struggled to gain traction since the recovery began and remains well below the levels observed [...]

As the once struggling residential market continues to steadily improve, the size of homes has grown in response. This is the case for both high-end and custom homes as well as additions to existing homes. In addition, preferences for accessible spaces in homes—such as open-space layouts and single-floor design—also continue to rise. Led by continued [...]