Construction Monitor

$2 Billion in Construction Permits for Projects Throughout Minneapolis Issued in 2014

Minneapolis construction hit an all-time high in 2014 with more than $2 billion worth of permits issued in that 12-month period. The city reached the substantial milestone with the issuance of a building permit for a single-family home on December 31, 2014, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

$2 Billion in Construction Permits for Projects Throughout Minneapolis Issued in 2014 Read More »

December 2014 Saw Lower Construction Material Costs Across the U.S.

Prices for 11 important residential construction materials dropped in December 2014, with indications that prices may drop even further in the early months of 2015. Construction material costs fell 1.4 percent in December 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Producer Price Index. The price reductions in December represented a nearly 1 percent decrease

December 2014 Saw Lower Construction Material Costs Across the U.S. Read More »

Sustainable Materials That May Make Their Way Into the Future Home Building Market

Current research in sustainable building materials is producing several notable advances in the type of material that may eventually become commonplace in the home building market. New approaches to construction materials could result in products that dramatically improve residential sustainability and energy efficiency. Here are some of the sustainable building materials and practices that could

Sustainable Materials That May Make Their Way Into the Future Home Building Market Read More »

Midsize Construction Firms Expecting More Growth and Business in Coming Year

The outlook for midsize construction firms in 2015 is optimistic, with almost half believing that the construction sector will expand in the coming year. In a survey conducted by GE Capital, 47 percent of survey respondents reported that business will be brighter for midsize construction firms in 2015, with growth expected throughout the year. The

Midsize Construction Firms Expecting More Growth and Business in Coming Year Read More »

Growth in Institutional Construction Detected for the First Time in 6 Years

For the first time since 2008, the institutional construction sector is showing signs of growth. Institutional construction increased a modest 4 percent in 2014, in contrast to several years of either stagnation or declines, beginning in 2009. The uptick in the institutional sector was reported in the 2015 Dodge Construction Outlook, produced by Dodge Data

Growth in Institutional Construction Detected for the First Time in 6 Years Read More »

Unemployment in Construction Lowest in Years, Though Qualified Labor Is Still Hard to Find

After a lengthy period of limited opportunity and uncertainty, unemployment in construction is at its lowest point since 2006. Despite the positive upturn in construction employment, however, some industries and geographical areas are still experiencing unemployment in construction. Qualified construction workers are still in short supply in areas where oil drilling and petroleum production have been

Unemployment in Construction Lowest in Years, Though Qualified Labor Is Still Hard to Find Read More »