Archive for January, 2010
Construction Materials Price Index Rises 0.2% in December
Construction materials price inflation eased to a 0.2% monthly increase in December largely due to a 5% drop in diesel prices. However, diesel prices have increased $0.12/gal. since the December survey week so a larger overall rise in the price index is likely in January, says Reed Construction Data chief economist Jim Haughey.
U.S. fourth-quarter 2009 GDP expands at an impressive 5.7% rate
According to the “advance estimate” of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product leapt forward 5.7% in 2009’s fourth quarter versus the third, on an annualized basis. Leading the way were the change in non-farm inventories and goods exports
New Expansion Index Indicates Increased Commercial Construction Volume Expected in 2010
Reed Construction Data announced today that the volume of nonresidential building construction is expected to expand in the next twelve months. This is based on the RCD/RSMeans Commercial Construction Expansion Index calculated from Reed’s proprietary database.
U.S. inventory of unsold new homes isn’t getting much better
U.S. new single-family home sales in December 2009 of 342,000 units nearly dropped back down to their low point in first-quarter 2009 (329,000 in January and 332,000 in March). In the six months in the middle of the year, sales picked up nicely, averaging nearly 400,000 units
The window of opportunity on construction costs is gradually being closed
This is a follow-up to RCD’s Jan.
