Materials prices, which had been well behaved for nearly two years, have started to act up—with emphasis on UP.
Construction employment expanded in 29 states between September and October, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 39 states, Â鶹ÊÓƵ reported in an analysis of state employment data released Tuesday by the Labor Department. Â
Construction contractors continue to be squeezed by rising prices for key construction materials and flat prices for what they can charge for finished projects, according to an analysis of October Producer Price Index figures released Tuesday by the Associated General Contractors of America.
RISING MATERIALS PRICES, FLAT PRICES FOR FINISHED PROJECTS SQUEEZING HARD-HIT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, ECONOMIST NOTES
Construction contractors continue to be squeezed between rising materials costs and falling output prices, according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's new analysis of materials costs. Â鶹ÊÓƵ noted that even as the producer price index leapt in April for key construction components, the amount contractors charge for construction services remains depressed.
Increases in public-sector construction spending, driven by stimulus funds, helped boost total construction activity by almost $2 billion between February and March, according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's analysis of federal spending figures released Monday.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ connected the Wall Street Journal with chief economist Ken Simonson to comment for a story about how one company has begun all-too-rare construction of a corporate headquarters to take advantage of low construction costs.
Construction employment expanded in 26 states and the District of Columbia between February and March 2010, yet only Arkansas and North Dakota have more construction workers than they did a year ago, according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's analysis of federal employment figures released Friday.
Construction spending tumbled in February by $11.6 billion, or 1.3 percent, to $846 billion, a low last recorded in 2002, according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's analysis of new federal figures. Declines occurred relative to both the month before and February 2009 in most categories of private residential and nonresidential construction, as well as public construction, Â鶹ÊÓƵ's chief economist Ken Simonson noted.
Construction spending in January fell by $5.5 billion to $884 billion, its lowest level since June 2003, according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's analysis of new federal figures. Declining investments in private-sector non-residential construction and public construction at all levels of government drove the decline, Â鶹ÊÓƵ's chief economist Ken Simonson said.