Gilbane publishes Winter 2012 construction economic report

Gilbane Building Company today announces the publication of the Winter 2012 edition of Construction Economics -- Market Conditions in Construction. Based on an array of economic data, construction starts, and material cost trends, this free report indicates an increase in construction spending over last year but cautions of an expected downturn again in early 2013.

According to the report, margins are up a slim 1% to 2% year over year for 2012. Once 2013 growth in nonresidential work picks up and both residential and nonresidential are active, the industry may begin to see some labor shortages and productivity losses, which will push up escalation. Also, as it did in 2012, even moderate growth in activity will allow contractors to pass along more material costs and increase margins.

Potential impact of recent events:

According to the Associated General Contractors (AGC), Hurricane Sandy may not add any economic impact to the construction industry. For the most part, any funds directed to reconstruction will be diverted from some other potential or previously planned construction project and will be spread over a long time span.
Bond issues considered in the recent elections amount to just over half ($30+ billion) of what was approved in 2008 elections ($60+ billion), signaling a reduction in publicly funded work.
At the recent McGraw Hill Outlook conference, none of the economists expect the fiscal cliff to happen. However, sequestration or the compromises agreed upon will likely reduce funds available for federal and public projects.

Among the topics covered in this comprehensive report are:

Construction Starts, Spending, & Costs
Material Price Movement
Trends and Costs for Structural Steel, Recycling Steel, & Copper
Architectural Billings Index
Current Inflation Forecast
ENR Index -- BCI History

This free report is available for download at http://info.gilbaneco.com/construction-economics. +

Earlier this month, my colleague and I presented a session to a group of civil engineers and transportation agencies about the tech trends in the AEC space. Along with advice on how to prepare your plan for controlled collaboration, we also talked through some practical use cases. One such use case was especially interesting, as it outlined a challenge not unfamiliar to government agencies who are contemplating the leap from paper to digital processes: how to securely migrate workflows.

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