Construction + Economy

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions extended its late-year rally in December, climbing for a fourth month in a row to 63.9. The index reached its highest mark since March, while more respondents than not reported an improved business environment for the second consecutive month. The EBCI for future [...]

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today issued the following statement in reaction to the House and Senate votes approving the “Fiscal Cliff” deal negotiated by Congressional leaders earlier this week. The statement should be attributed to AIA President Mickey Jacob, FAIA: “On the plus side, the agreement prevents a tax increase on millions of [...]

Billings at architecture firms accelerated to their strongest pace of growth since December 2010. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. AIA reported the October ABI score [...]

Construction employment declined by 20,000 jobs in November while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 12.2%, according to an analysis of new federal data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The construction employment figures likely reflect the fact many contractors have already cut staff and delayed hiring new employees because of the threat [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions climbed nearly 13 points in October, its third straight monthly increase, to 58.3. The index reached its highest mark for since April, while more respondents than not reported an improved business environment for the first time since June. The EBCI for future North [...]

The design and construction industry, still reeling from the real estate crash, could face another $2 billion in lost work if Congress and the White House fail to reach agreement on a federal budget in time to avoid massive mandatory federal spending cuts on January 2, an American Institute of Architects (AIA) analysis warns. Read [...]

Billings at architecture firms in September increased at their fastest pace since late 2010. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), maintained by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) [...]

Since the beginning of the recession in early 2008, architecture firms have collectively seen their revenue drop by 40% and have had to cut personnel by nearly a third. Despite a national recovery from the recession in 2009, construction activity continued to spiral downward, according to the recently released 2012 AIA Firm Survey, now available [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions rose to 42.1 in September, up from 35.7 and 38.6, respectively, in August and July. Despite rising to a three-month high, though, the index remained short of the 50-point level indicating an equal number of panelists see conditions improving as see them deteriorating. [...]