Construction + Economy

  Recently released new construction metrics show mixed monthly results, variations by sectors, and positive projections through 2023 and 2024. DMI The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, fell -2% in May to 180.5 points (2000=100) from the revised April reading of 184.1 points. Over the month, the commercial component of the [...]

  China’s share of U.S. imports has been declining sharply over the past six years. The all time high was 21.6% in 2017. The first four months of 2023 fell to 13.3%. That’s a 38% decline in import share over the past 6 years. If annualized at 13.3%, 2023 would be the lowest level since [...]

At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This is the final article, Part 7, of the series. Dozens of states and municipalities have begun adopting energy benchmarking regulations that include fines to building owners who fail to meet either emissions or energy efficiency requirements. New [...]

  At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This article is Part 6 of the series. In Part 3 of this series, the drivers of deeper energy efficiency retrofits were discussed, including: Rapid rises in electric utility rates that will likely continue for some time. [...]

  At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This article is Part 5 of the series. Electrification of building heat, hot water, cooking, as well as the transportation sector will create tremendous stresses on the electrical grid and utilities. This is already beginning to happen [...]

At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This article is Part 4 of the series. Two of the biggest consequences of electrification will be the mass adoption of electric vehicles as well as the rapid increase in renewable energy generation. Both of these will create [...]

  At LightFair, last week, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. I had the pleasure of co-presenting with Chris Brown and Peter Brown, two prominent thought leaders in the lighting industry. I’m going to share some of the key impacts on lighting in a series of [...]

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released it’s annual State of Retail & the Consumer forecast. Here are the highlights: The retail sector is expected to grow 4-6% in 2023, to $5.13-$5.23 Trillion. 2022 saw 7% growth over 2021. 2023’s forecast is higher than pre-pandemic growth of 3.6% E-commerce sales expected to rise 10-12% in 2023, [...]

States are increasing their spending on highways, streets, and bridge construction by 10% in fiscal year 2023. Four out of five states expect to increase this type of infrastructure spending in FY2023 over the previous year. Almost 75% of the increase is due to increased federal reimbursements to states. This includes early spending on IIJA [...]