IndustryOutlook

Construction Spending Hits 37-Month High
The month of October marked a 37-month construction spending high, accumulating a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $872 billion, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). October's adjusted annual rate was up 1.4 percent from September and 9.6 percent from October 2011.

Dodge Index Holds Steady in November
The Dodge Momentum Index held steady in November, according to the latest report from McGraw-Hill Construction. The index registered a 92.5 (2000=100) in November, a 0.5-percent increase compared with October’s revised 92.0. According to the report, the November Index increase can be attributed to the institutional building sector, which grew by 1.7 percent in November. However, overall commercial construction declined 0.6 percent from October, according to McGraw-Hill.

PPI Shows Flat Glass Prices Remain Stable
Flat glass prices remained stable from September to October, according to the Producer Price Index Report produced by the U.S. Labor Department, with a minor decrease of 0.1 percent. This is the first drop in several months as prices rose 0.4 percent from July to August, and 1.0 percent from August to September.

While flat glass prices dropped, the cost of construction materials rose 0.1 percent from September to October—following a 0.2-percent increase from July to August and a 0.3-percent increase for August to September.

The import price for glass and glassware rose 0.2 percent from September to October, according to the October Import and Export Price Indexes. The export price for the same increased 0.4 percent from September to October.

Glass and glassware includes float glass, safety glass, lab glass and a range of other glass products, according to information from the International Price Program office in Washington, D.C.

Three Months Strong
Results for billings at architecture firms in October displayed the quickest pace of positive growth since December 2010, according to the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index (ABI). The ABI score was 52.8 compared to 51.6 in September, while the new projects inquiry index was 59.4, compared to 57.3 the month before. n

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