Dodge Data & Analytics released its 2017 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2017 will advance 5% to $713 billion, following gains of 11% in 2015 and an estimated 1% in 2016.
Read More
For the first time since the summer of 2012, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) posted consecutive months of a decline in demand for design services. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the September ABI score was 48.4, down from the mark of 49.7 in the previous month.
Read More
Economic conditions have softened for landscape architecture firms, according to the latest American Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) Business Quarterly survey. During the third quarter of 2016, firms reported a decrease in billable hours and inquiries for new work, with plans to hire also softening from the previous quarter.
Read More
The value of new construction starts in September decreased a slight 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $703.7 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. This follows the 22% jump for total construction starts in August, which witnessed the highest monthly pace for construction starts so far in 2016.
Read More
The Dodge Momentum Index fell 4.3% in September to 129.0 from its revised August reading of 134.8 (2000=100). The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. The decline in September was the result of a 5.3% drop in institutional planning and a 3.6% decrease in commercial planning, retreating from the strong performance in August which benefitted from an influx of large projects ($100 million +) into planning.
Read More
Outdoor living space, mud rooms, and home offices top the list of special function rooms in the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey covering activity during the second quarter of 2016 that focused on emerging home features, systems and technologies. “Heavy investment in outdoor living spaces, mud rooms, and home offices indicate that consumers are placing a premium on practicality and functionality,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Things have changed a lot from a decade ago when home theaters and exercise rooms were some of the most popular special function rooms in homes.”
Read More
New construction starts in August soared 21% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $711.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics, following lackluster activity in July. The August rise for total construction starts featured an especially elevated amount for nonresidential building, which was helped by the start of a $3 billion petrochemical plant in Louisiana, the $1.7 billion Wynn Casino in the Boston MA area, and a $508 million terminal upgrade at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Read More
On the heels of six out of seven months of increasing levels of demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell just below the positive mark. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the August ABI score was 49.7, down from the mark of 51.5 in the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.8, up sharply from a reading of 57.5 the previous month.
Read More
Despite substantial investments, the construction industry is struggling to gain the full benefits of technologies including advanced data and analytics, mobility, automation and robotics. That’s the key finding from Building a technology advantage – Global Construction Survey 2016, the annual state-of-the-industry report from KPMG International.
Read More
The Dodge Momentum Index grew 1.3% in August to 134.9 (2000=100), from its revised July reading of...
Read More