June 28, 2009
Dow Price Increase
June 23, 2009
Architecture Billings Show Recovery Stalling
There has been a recent moderation in the downturn in design services billings, but the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reveals that an economic recovery has stalled. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the...
June 20, 2009
Builder Confidence Index Falls in June
Indicating that single-family home builders remain cautious and concerned about the fragile state of today's economy and housing market, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) declined one point to 15 in June.
...
June 19, 2009
New CertainTeed Gypsum Drywall Compound
CertainTeed Gypsum launches two new revolutionary drywall compounds that significantly reduce the amount of dust traditionally associated with finishing gypsum walls and ceilings. The products—Dust Away Reduced Airborne Dust Drywall Compound and...
June 17, 2009
May Construction Climbs 7 Percent
June 16, 2009
Dow Announces Price Increases
June 15, 2009
National Gypsum Price Increase
June 15, 2009
Six Lessons to Learn From the Recession
Paying attention to business is one of the major benefits of a recession. Ford figured it out. And so has Starbucks by bringing back the founding CEO, closing nearly 1,000 marginal stores and, most significantly, introducing their own instant coffee....
June 13, 2009
Construction Spending Rose .8% in April
Construction spending rose 0.8 percent in April, defying economists' forecasts for a decline.
The unexpected gain _ the most since August _ marked the second straight month that builders boosted spending on construction projects around the country,...
June 12, 2009
AISI PUBLISHES COLD-FORMED STEEL DESIGN MANUAL
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today the publication of the 2008 edition of the Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual. The Manual supplements AISI S100-07, the 2007 edition of the North American Specification for the...
June 12, 2009
April Wood Door PPI Up 1.3% from 2008
The April Producer Price Index for Wood Doors (flush & panel, interior & exterior) was up 1.3% from 2008 and the Other Wood Doors (Incl. garage, screen, storm, etc.) PPI was up 2.5% compared to a year earlier. Compared to March, the unadjusted...
June 12, 2009
Marino Ware Price Increase
June 11, 2009
Dietrich Price Increase
June 10, 2009
Clark Western Price Increase
June 9, 2009
As Automakers Go, So Do Steel Mills
Marc Barragan said steelworkers in Michigan often feel overlooked when it comes to the impact the automotive industry is having on the state's economy and related industries.
"The reason why I think it is kind of under the radar is because we are...
June 8, 2009
ABI Fell Less Than One Point in April
After an eight-point jump in March, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell less than a full point in April. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture...
June 7, 2009
Global Green Building Rating Sytem Coming to US from Europe
Big news on the green building front: A coalition of major Euro real estate firms is preparing to launch a new pan-European rating system that will provide a uniform yardstick - make that a meter stick - of energy use in rated buildings.
And this...
June 6, 2009
Steel Imports Decline 21% in April
Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 1,214,000 net tons (NT) of steel in April 2009, including 1,107 ,000 NT of finished steel (down 21% and 25%,...
June 5, 2009
Call for Papers for 2010 Culture and Sustainability
A call for papers is now underway for the 2010 International Symposium on Steel Structures to be held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 20-22, 2010. All abstracts need to be submitted before November 9, 2009.
The Symposium will address design issues...
June 4, 2009
Exisitng-Home Sales Rise in April
Existing-home sales rose in April with strong buyer activity in lower price ranges, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 2.9 percent to a...
June 4, 2009
May 2009 Housing Starts
U.S. May housing starts (released June 16) rose 17.2% to 532,000 units (SAAR). Total single family starts rose 7.5% to 401,000 units (SAAR), while the multi-family sector jumped nearly 80% to 124,000 (SAAR). Total U.S. permits, an indicator of future...
June 2, 2009
House Energy Bill Would Create National Building Code
By a 33 to 25 vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week approved legislation that would limit greenhouse-gas emissions and create a national building code that completely supplants the national model code development process.
Prior to...
June 1, 2009
Architects Rank Durability as Most Important Attribute for Green Products
Architects say durability is the most important attribute for a “green” building product, according to a new industry survey commissioned by PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG). It was followed by ENERGY STAR compliance, life-cycle assessment, no- or low-volatile...