AGC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment declined in 26 states and D.C. between June 2010 and 2011 and dropped in 22 states and D.C. between May and June, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of state employment data released by the Labor Department. The construction industry continues to suffer from a difficult combination of weak private sector demand and declining public sector investments in construction.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) and a bipartisan group of her colleagues introduced the PACE Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 2599) to promote energy efficient upgrades to homes. This bill would prevent federal regulators from adopting policies that disregard established state and local Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) laws. The PACE program is designed to allow homeowners an opportunity to lower their utility bills by making energy efficiency improvements to their homes, which would in turn help clean energy businesses sell more of their energy efficient products, expand green manufacturing operations, and create jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction costs again outpaced other producer prices in June but contractors remained unable to recoup the costs through higher bid prices, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the ongoing cost squeeze will put new pressure on construction firms to reduce staff and possibly close.

Washington, D.C. - June 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) and The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) joined a growing coalition called ConsensusDOCS that produces best practices construction contracts that are fair to all parties in the design and construction process. Endorsements by AWI and IEC increase the number of endorsing organizations of the standard construction contract documents to 34.

Washington, DC - June 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) today sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Jack Lew, asking them to promptly finalize a request to Congress for construction projects, including $20 million for homeless veterans projects on the West Los Angeles campus.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Contractors suffered from a new round of price increases for key materials in May but were largely unable to pass their costs along to customers, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the ongoing cost squeeze—a result of sluggish demand for construction—threatens to drive more construction employees and firms out of work unless public officials lower barriers to public and private investment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction spending inched up for the second straight month in April, 0.4 percent – following downward revisions to the March spending figures – thanks to increases in private nonresidential and home-improvement spending, the Associated General Contractors of America reported today in an analysis of new Census Bureau data. Association officials noted, however, that the gains were tempered by sluggish homebuilding and declining levels of public investment in construction

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Contractors were only able to partially pass on the costs of rising petroleum and metals prices in April, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said the resulting cost squeeze—a result of sluggish demand for construction—will push more construction employees and firms out of work unless public officials act promptly to encourage public and private investment.

April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Contractors’ financial position grew more precarious in March as prices for key materials escalated while prices construction firms charge for completed projects stayed flat, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said contractors’ inability to pass costs along imperils the industry’s comeback and urged federal officials to act on a series of recovery measures the group outlined last month.

March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial pressures on contractors grew worse in February as prices for key construction materials rose sharply even as prices construction firms charge for completed projects remained stagnant, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said the price squeeze will make it harder for the construction industry to recover and urged federal officials to act on a series of recovery measures the group outlined yesterday

PHOENIX, AZ - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Associated General Contractors of America released a new national plan today detailing measures to stimulate demand for construction. Officials said the plan was needed to reverse construction employment declines that have taken place in 317 out of 337 metro areas since January 2007, according to new data the association released today.

February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Finding Ways to Encourage Private Sector Energy Upgrades Will Do More to Cut Emissions and Create New Jobs than any “Cap & Trade” Scheme, Top Construction Official Notes

December 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Huge jumps in prices for diesel fuel and copper—two key inputs to construction—pinched contractors in November as weak demand for construction forced them to hold down bid prices despite the cost increases, according to an analysis of November producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Prices for materials used in construction climbed 0.5 percent in November and 4.8 percent over the past 12 months, while price indexes for finished buildings remained flat over both time periods. The PPI for finished goods went up 0.4 percent for the month and 3.5 percent year-over-year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 29 states between September and October, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 39 states, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released today by the Labor Department. The new figures continue a nearly year-long trend of ups and downs in construction employment as the industry performs stimulus-funded work yet grapples with broad market uncertaint