Ken Simonson
Ken Simonson
center climbed commercial grew growth hospital nearly office segments several shopping swelling warehouse
On a two-month basis, there were several segments that showed exceptional growth. Shopping center construction leaped 61%, after swelling nearly 40% in 2005 and 25% in 2004. Hospital construction grew 22%, while manufacturing and commercial warehouse construction climbed 20%. The previously lackluster office segment was up 18%.
costs fuel growth highway materials
Fast-rising materials and fuel costs have exaggerated the growth in some of these categories, especially highway construction.
among case categories comparing december grew growth increased major private public rose
As was the case for most of the year, growth was well distributed among the major construction segments. Comparing December 2005 to December 2004, public construction grew 10%, private residential construction rose 9.0%, and private nonresidential was up 6.0%. For the year, those categories increased 8.0%, 11%, and 5.0%, respectively.
among eight five grew growth higher major months nine past percent private public segments several steady total
Growth has been steady and well distributed among the major construction segments for the past several months. For the first 11 months of 2005, total construction was nine percent higher than in same months of 2004. Private residential construction grew 11 percent, public construction, eight percent, and private nonresidential, five percent.
balanced cylinders growth hitting industry report shows spending
Today's report on construction spending shows the industry is hitting on all cylinders with strong, balanced growth.
eerie leave roof uncovered
It's an eerie challenge. You don't want to leave the roof uncovered in a place like that.
building capacity cement leveled plenty production
There's plenty of cement worldwide, but in the U.S., cement production capacity has leveled off and no one is building more plants.
affected home remains
You have a lot of home construction that will be affected by that. How much remains to be seen.
bag buy consumers effect home notice
Consumers who are doing repairs or additions to their home will notice the effect when they buy a bag of cement.
building copper diesel energy fuel heavy materials power
Contractors use a lot of diesel fuel to power bulldozers, trucks, and other heavy equipment. And many building materials industries, such as copper and steel, are energy intensive.
adding expect jobs modest
I still expect construction to be adding jobs but at a more modest pace.
capacity expanding growing meet problem spot
Availability is going to be even more of a problem in 2006 than it was in 2005. In 2005 you had spot shortages. In 2006, nonresidential construction is growing and capacity is not expanding to meet those needs.
average below cents diesel fallen fuel gas gulf higher keeping mexico national natural oil per prices production record retail rita supplies year
Oil and natural gas prices have fallen sharply from their post-hurricane highs. However, production from the Gulf of Mexico is still down by more than 15 percent, keeping supplies tight. As of mid-March, the national average retail price of diesel fuel was around $2.55 per gallon, 60 cents below the record set after Rita but 35 cents (16 percent) higher than a year ago.
equipment expensive harder kinds rubber steel
Rubber for construction equipment tires, (Sheetrock) and some kinds of steel may also be harder to find or more expensive because of the storms.