Construction + Economy

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions rebounded in September, rising 7.3 points from August to 52.6. A reading above 50 indicates more panelists than not reported improved conditions during the month. Moreover, the survey’s measure of the intensity of change in current North American conditions suggests that conditions improved [...]

The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for July inched closer to the 50-point threshold again (a score higher than 50 is an indication of growth), climbing nearly two full points from June to 47.9. While there is growing optimism that billings may grow in the near future, business conditions at [...]

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index (LSI) dipped 0.3% on a quarter-to-quarter basis during the second quarter of 2010. On a year-over-year basis, the index registered a 5.3%gain versus 2Q 2009. However, since that quarter marked the lowest reading ever recorded for the LSI, this rate of year-over-year growth indicates that lighting equipment demand remains at a [...]

Construction job gains were more widespread across the country and job losses were generally less severe in July than in June, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data recently released by the Labor Department. Twenty–six states added construction jobs in July, compared to 19 in June, while six [...]

There was a negligible increase in the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI) last month. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The AIA reported the June ABI rating was 46.0, up slightly from a [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American business conditions slid nearly 7 points in July, falling to 63.5, its lowest level since January 2010, from 70.4 a month earlier. While the index reading implies that the economic environment faced by electrical equipment manufacturers continued to improve on balance in July, a decidedly [...]

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Construction employment edged closer to stabilizing in June, as half the states either added construction jobs or kept the same number as in May, the Associated General Contractors reported in an analysis of federal employment data released on Tuesday. Compared to June 2009, construction employment rose in six states, the largest number of states to [...]

FMI’s Construction Outlook: Second Quarter 2010 Report indicates that while there has been some encouraging signs in the general economy, the outlook for put-in-place construction 2010 remains bleak. According to Heather Jones, Construction Economist for FMI Corporation, “Total construction in 2010 will be down 5% after declining in 2009. Residential construction is expected to begin [...]