Construction + Economy

NEMA’s shipment indexes for linear fluorescent T5, T8, and T12 lamps decreased during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year. T5 lamps showed the largest decrease, declining 7.9 percent, while T8s and T12s declined by 5.5 and 5.0 percent, respectively. Despite posting year-over-year declines, shipments of T5 and T12 lamps [...]

The same downdraft afflicting the broad economy appears to be spilling into the electrical manufacturing sector as the industry pulls back from its earlier rebound. NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions fell to 38.6 in July from 52.4 in June. The index has been sliding since reaching a recent year [...]

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) saw more poor conditions last month, indicating a drop in design activity at U.S. architecture firms, and suggesting upcoming weakness in spending on nonresidential construction projects. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI, produced by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month [...]

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “A rising number of manufacturers are canceling new investments and putting off new hires because they fear paralysis in Washington will force hundreds of billions in tax increases and budget cuts in January, undermining economic growth in the coming months.” Read the story here, then contact your representatives in Congress and [...]

Even with the myriad of obstacles preventing a full-scale recovery for the overall U.S. economy, the design and construction industry appears to have reasons to be at least modestly optimistic in the coming months and into next year, according to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) mid-year Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s [...]

From FMI: “Economic forecasting is a tricky business even in normal times, and the current national and global economy is anything but normal. Nonetheless, FMI’s forecast calls for more slow growth for the construction industry. Despite the constant confusion of news from Europe and uncertainty and inaction in the U.S. Congress, there are some positive [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions slipped to 52.4 in June from 54.2 in May and has retreated more than 20 points since reaching a post-recession high in February. Despite its recent slide, the index continues to point to an economic environment conducive to industry growth, as it has for [...]

Following the first negative reading in five months, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) suffered a significant drop in May. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI, produced by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. AIA reported the May [...]

Demand for lighting fixtures in the U.S. will increase 7.5% annually to $25.3 billion in 2016, recovering from the declines of the 2006-2011 period, according to Lighting Fixtures, a new industry study by The Freedonia Group. An expected rebound in building construction activity and improved outlook for motor vehicle production will be important drivers for [...]