Business and Finance

    Big Opportunities in Distribution

    New research by Dodge Data & Analytics shows that the warehouse and distribution center market is among the fastest growing building types in the US. In 2010, this vital but practically invisible component of the nation’s infrastructure generated $3.8 billion in construction starts, accounting for 9% of the overall commercial buildings sector. But driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce, compounded by COVID lockdowns and brick-and-mortar retail closures, it is now projected for almost $53 billion of starts in 2022.… Read More »Big Opportunities in Distribution

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      What to Expect When You’re Expecting: An Economic Update

      By Richard Branch, Chief Economist, Dodge Construction Network The construction sector is staging a solid recovery despite higher material prices, shortages of key goods, and scarce labor. Nonresidential starts are flourishing as many commercial and institutional building types have made the turn from the downside of the cycle to the upside. Tattered supply chains have been a boon for the manufacturing space as chip plants, EV battery facilities, and food production plants have broken ground over the past few months. … Read More »What to Expect When You’re Expecting: An Economic Update

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        The Real Estate Industry Begins to Grapple With Climate Change

        Waterfronts in Florida. Woodlands in California. Anywhere, really, in Arizona. The real estate industry is finally coming to terms with the increased frequency and intensity of flooding, wildfires, drought, and other climactic effects of the climate crisis. Why? In part, the New York Times reports, because the insurance industry has recognized the high costs of frequent rebuilding in disaster-prone areas, raising prices “significantly over the last 18 months.” Real estate industry groups such as the Pension Real Estate Association and… Read More »The Real Estate Industry Begins to Grapple With Climate Change

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          How Facilities Are Evolving To Support Rapid Growth

          This SmartMarket Brief reveals data from a new study that shows how warehouses—one of the fastest growing segments of commercial construction—are evolving, helping all companies involved in ownership, design, and construction of these facilities to better understand this changing market.

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            Dodge Momentum Index Recovers in February

            The Dodge Momentum Index increased 4% in February to 158.2 (2000=100), from the revised January reading of 151.9. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. In February, institutional planning rose 9%, and commercial planning moved 1% higher. The Dodge Momentum Index rebounded from three consecutive monthly declines that followed a 14-year high… Read More »Dodge Momentum Index Recovers in February

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              Business Conditions for Civil Contractors Remain Positive

              Each issue of the Dodge publication Civil Quarterly surveys civil engineers to track a variety of business conditions. One useful indicator measures contractors’ backlog—more specifically the ratio between their ideal amount of backlog to the current reality. According to the most recent survey, backlogs remained strong throughout 2021, with most civil contractors reporting close to their ideal backlog. No consistent pattern of change has emerged, with backlog ratios increasing or decreasing, but always remaining at 80 or above.

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                Demographic Growth Slows, Population Shifts: What They Mean for Your Business

                By Richard Branch, Chief Economist One of the biggest concerns facing the construction sector is “people.” For most of us in the industry, that concern is centered on the acute lack of skilled labor facing the sector.  I think, though, the “people” concern goes deeper than that. At the end of the day, what we do is build things for people: homes, roads, schools, etc. However, population growth in the U.S. is slowing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total… Read More »Demographic Growth Slows, Population Shifts: What They Mean for Your Business

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                  Managing Through the Cycle for Construction Success With Steel

                  Is uncertainty making it hard to plan for the future? Tabitha S. Stine, the director of construction solutions services at the steel and steel products company Nucor, has a strong sense of what the construction industry can expect. In her presentation for Outlook 2022, she draws connections between COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, the price of steel, and near- and mid-term prospects for the construction industry and the economy writ large. In the long-term, material prices continue to rise: From Jan.… Read More »Managing Through the Cycle for Construction Success With Steel

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                    Did the Grinch Steal the Construction Recovery?

                    By Richard Branch, Chief Economist As the calendar turns over to a new year, the recovery in construction starts is gaining traction. Through the first 11 months of 2021, total construction starts are up 13% on a year-to-date basis over 2020. Nonresidential building starts are up 11% thanks to gains in warehouse, recreation, and manufacturing starts. Residential building starts have risen an incredible 20% on a year-to-date basis as multifamily construction picks up speed, while single family pauses. Nonbuilding starts,… Read More »Did the Grinch Steal the Construction Recovery?

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                      Adapt And Thrive In An Evolving Market

                      While the quarantine from the pandemic is coming to an end, its impact on the construction sector will be felt for years to come. The nascent recovery in construction activity will be shaped by the numerous challenges facing the sector. But with every challenge, there is an opportunity that will allow your business to grow and increase profitability.

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