flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Construction economists optimistic about 2014 growth

Construction economists optimistic about 2014 growth

ABC’s quarterly Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) will be released Aug. 19.


By Associated Builders and Contractors | August 5, 2014
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu, American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chief Economist Kermit Baker and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chief Economist David Crowe provided a collaborative economic forecast combining their expert economic analysis on leading, present and lagging economic indicators.
 
"A combination of low interest rates; wealth effects stemming from a booming stock market and rising home prices; surging energy production; and expanding industrial output has helped position the U.S. economy for more rapid growth during the next several quarters," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "This will lead to more robust recovery in the U.S. nonresidential construction industry, which has also been aided by stable materials prices and improving commercial real estate fundamentals. ABC predicts 7 percent nominal nonresidential construction growth in 2014, despite ongoing challenges in the public construction segment."
 
"We continue to have an optimistic outlook for the commercial and industrial sectors for the rest of this year and into 2015," said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. "However, until we see state and local governments ramp up spending for new education, health care and public safety structures there likely won’t be a widespread acceleration in spending for the entire industry."
 
"Economic pick-up in the second quarter was coupled with a return in housing construction," said David Crowe, chief economist for NAHB. "We expect continued modest growth in housing construction as employment rises and more household formations take place. However, continued tight supplies of labor and land will put upward pressure on new home prices."
 
In addition to this forecast, AIA released its latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) July 23, NAHB released its latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) July 16 and ABC’s quarterly Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) will be released Aug. 19.

Related Stories

| Aug 14, 2013

Military Construction Report [2013 Giants 300 Report]

Building Design+Construction's rankings of the nation's largest military sector design and construction firms, as reported in the 2013 Giants 300 Report.

| Aug 13, 2013

DPR's Phoenix office, designed by SmithGroupJJR, affirmed as world's largest ILFI-certified net-zero facility

The new Phoenix Regional Office of DPR Construction, designed by SmithGroupJJR, has been officially certified as a Net Zero Energy Building by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).  It’s the largest building in the world to achieve Net Zero Energy Building Certification through the Institute to date.

| Aug 13, 2013

USGBC joins forces with Green Sports Alliance to promote sustainable venues

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced a collaboration with the Green Sports Alliance, a prominent nonprofit organization supporting the development and promotion of green building initiatives in professional and collegiate sports.

| Aug 8, 2013

Energy research animates science sector [2013 Giants 300 Report]

After an era of biology-oriented spending—largely driven by Big Pharma and government concerns about bioterrorism—climate change is reshaping priorities in science and technology construction.

| Aug 8, 2013

Top Science and Technology Sector Engineering Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]

Affiliated Engineers, Middough, URS top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest science and technology sector engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.

| Aug 8, 2013

Top Science and Technology Sector Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]

HDR, Perkins+Will, HOK top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest science and technology sector architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.

| Aug 8, 2013

Top Science and Technology Sector Construction Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]

Skanska, DPR, Suffolk top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest science and technology sector contractors and construction management firms in the U.S.

| Aug 8, 2013

Level of Development: Will a new standard bring clarity to BIM model detail?

The newly released LOD Specification document allows Building Teams to understand exactly what’s in the BIM model they’re being handed.

| Aug 8, 2013

Vertegy spins off to form independent green consultancy

St. Louis-based Vertegy has announced the formation of Vertegy, LLC, transitioning into an independent company separate from the Alberici Enterprise. The new company was officially unveiled Aug. 1, 2013

| Aug 6, 2013

California construction firm C.W. Driver acquires Good & Roberts

C.W. Driver, a premier builder serving California since 1919, announced today that it has acquired Good & Roberts (G&R), a 34-year-old San Diego based construction company. G&R will operate as a subsidiary, allowing C.W. Driver to expand into new markets and broaden its current San Diego market share

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021