Total construction starts lost 5% in December, falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $784.3 billion. Nonresidential building starts fell 11% during the month, while nonbuilding starts were 5% lower. Residential starts were essentially flat over the month. Starts were lower in three of the four regions in December; the South Central was the only region to post an increase.
Construction + Economy
Housing Starts End 2020 Strong; Risks Ahead
While nonresidential construction activity contracted in 2020 and is projected for another decline in 2021, residential construction was strong last year. Led by a solid, double-digit gain in single-family starts, overall housing starts increased 5.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.67 million units, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
AIA: Nonresidential Building Spending to Decline Through 2021, Bounce Back in 2022
Slowing demand at architecture firms in 2020 is expected to contribute to a projected 5.7 percent decline in construction spending for 2021, according to a new consensus forecast from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Architectural Billings Lose Ground in December 2020
Demand for design services from U.S. architecture firms took a pointed dip in December 2020, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Survey: General Contractors Pessimistic about 2021
Construction employment increased by 51,000 jobs in December, with gains for nonresidential as well as residential contractors, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials, however, cautioned that its latest survey shows widespread pessimism among contractors about the volume of work available in 2021.
AIA Condemns Capitol Hill Violence
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently issued a statement by Peter Exley, FAIA & Robert Ivy, FAIA condemning the violence at Capitol Hill on January 6. Their statement follows.
Architecture Billings Lose Ground in November
Architecture firm billing activity contracted once again in November 2020 after two months of a slowing decline, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Architecture Billings Remained Stalled in October
While architectural billings failed to show much progress during October 2020, signs of improving business conditions at firms have emerged, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Preliminary 2018 CBECS Results Released
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released preliminary results of the 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS). Conducted every five (approximately) years, the CBECS estimates characteristics for the national building stock.
AEC Survey: 67% Anticipate Revenue Reduction Due to Pandemic
Zweig Group has updated the Impacts of COVID-19 on the AEC Industry Survey for the second half of 2020, adding new questions about personal protective equipment (PPP) funding, outlook and budget forecasting, and more.
Lighting Solution Development
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