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AEC firms are positive about industry growth in 2022 and expect to continue employing a hybrid workforce, according to a survey by Openasset. The AEC Industry Outlook Survey of 500 architecture, engineering, and construction professionals found that 78% believe their firm will experience positive... View full entry
Wrapping up a tumultuous business year 2021, the American Institute of Architects reports that architecture firms ended the year on a "high note with strong business conditions." The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for December rose to 52.0, a one-point increase from 51.0 in November. The... View full entry
Although the prices of some raw materials fell in December, costs are still sky high for contractors looking to purchase them, according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Overall, the price of construction materials jumped nearly 20% in 2021, the group said Thursday. — Construction Dive
In addition, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) 2022 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Survey, material costs were listed as a top concern for contractors this year. Though prices moderated for some construction materials in December, they still... View full entry
In the last 22 months, workers' pandemic-related absences have cost employers more than $78.4 billion — nearly $1 billion each week — according to a Dec. 20 analysis from the Integrated Benefits Institute. — Construction Dive
The Integrated Benefits Institute used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics along with its own dataset to analyze disability wage payments, state disability insurance, sick leave wages, and employee benefits for its calculation. The states of California, Texas, New York, along with the... View full entry
National consulting group Appleseed Strategy has released the results of their 2021 Financial & Economic Survey, a U.S. business study of AEC firms to gauge the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector. 43 individuals and 39 companies in architecture, engineering, landscape... View full entry
Months of isolation made people rethink the way they wanted to live. That meant their buildings would change. That meant construction, and architects became useful again, after being abandoned. But the craziness of a new era has made all builders and architects simultaneously empowered by their new in-demand status while fully threatened by costs and availability of all the products and people necessary to build. — CT Insider
Earlier in the year, labor and supply chain issues had caused markets in steel and timber to skyrocket, delaying many commercial and residential projects industry-wide, in addition to triggering what some think will be a boom in demand once the pandemic subsides. However bright the prospects are... View full entry
The latest economic report issued by the American Institute of Architects is out today, indicating continued increasing demand for design services for the tenth consecutive month in November. The pace of growth as expressed in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) softened slightly compared to... View full entry
The latest edition of the Dodge Momentum Index indicates a 4% decrease in November from October. Commercial planning fell 8% while institutional planning moved 5% higher. The value of nonresidential building projects continues to move in a sawtooth pattern, in which month-by-month measures... View full entry
Demand for architectural design services has grown for the ninth consecutive month, according to the latest economic report released by the American Institute of Architects. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for October remained at an elevated, positive score of 54.3, softening only slightly... View full entry
Higher prices and longer wait times do not appear to be turning buyers away from the nation’s homebuilders. With demand still surging, homebuilder confidence in the market for single-family homes rose more than expected in November, to the highest level since last May — CNBC
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builder sentiment in the market for newly-built single-family homes moved three points higher to 83 in November. Readings above 50 indicate that more builders view conditions as good than... View full entry
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of the recently-released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data, construction input prices increased 1.5% in October. Nonresidential construction input prices have increased by 1.4% in the month. ... View full entry
Non-residential building projects entering planning stage across the United States are showing strong signs of recovery, according to data from Dodge Construction Network. The latest iteration of the Dodge Momentum Index notes a 10% increase in non-residential building projects in planning through... View full entry
Total construction starts across the United States rose 10% during September 2021 versus the previous month, according to new data from Dodge Construction Network. The 10% figure is an amalgamation of residential building starts, nonresidential building starts, and nonbuilding starts, all of which... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects released its latest report this morning, marking the eighth consecutive month of increasing architecture billings as a sign of continued economic recovery for the industry. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for September was 56.6, a one-point... View full entry
U.S. home prices surged 19.7% in July, once again posting the biggest jump in more than 30 years. The record gain in the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of property values nationwide followed a 18.7% jump in June and was the 14th straight month of accelerating price increases. — Bloomberg
A measure of prices in 20 cities posted a 19.9% gain in July, up from 19.1% the previous month. Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle reported the highest year-over-year gains, with 32.4%, 27.8%, and 25.5% increases, respectively. “The last several months have been extraordinary not only in the... View full entry
