Construction + Economy

The results from NEMA’s latest monthly survey of senior member company executives finds that business conditions improved for the sixth month in a row in April. The Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions measured 57.1. While down slightly from the 60.9 mark recorded in March, a reading above 50 indicates more [...]

Residential architects are reporting that business conditions are stabilizing and there is a healthy demand for remodeling and renovation projects. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2010, which focused specifically on kitchens and bathrooms. The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted [...]

The first quarter of 2011 has seen the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) remain virtually unchanged and right at, or slightly above, the break-even level. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions – derived from a survey of senior industry executives – climbed to 69.6 in February, up 6 points from January’s reading of 63.6. The index has topped 60 points in each of the last four months, indicating a sustained improvement in the economic environment [...]

During the first two months of 2011 the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is not exhibiting the strength of business conditions that were seen in the final quarter of 2010. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American [...]

While activity for institutional projects should hover near 2010 levels, there is likely to be a construction spendingmodest decline in commercial construction in 2011, according to the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel. Overall nonresidential construction spending is expected to decrease by 2% for the year. The Panel believes 2012 will produce stronger gains, however, with [...]

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions continued to point to a broadly improving environment in January. The index measured 63.6, down slightly from December’s 68, but near the high end of the range of readings recorded since the beginning of the third quarter of 2010. A reading above 50 indicates [...]

On the heels of its highest mark since 2007, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) jumped more than two points in December 2010. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December [...]

Shipments of metal halide high intensity discharge (HID) lamps grew by 4.6 percent to 87.1 during the third quarter of 2010. The index showed solid year-over-year growth increasing 5.7 percent. Conversely, sodium vapor HID lamp shipments retrenched 10.4 percent during the quarter to 82.1, the second lowest level on record for the index. Mercury vapor [...]