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Prices for inputs to construction industries expanded 0.8% in March, the largest monthly increase in more than two years, according to the April 14 producer price index release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices have now expanded for two consecutive months after declining during the previous six; however, input prices are down 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. March marks the fourth consecutive month that year-over-year input prices have declined, the longest such streak since 2009. Crude petroleum prices fell 4% in March and have fallen in eight of the previous nine months.“Although overall construction materials prices rose for the

In the coming months, the Regional Transportation District and the Colorado Dept. of Transportation will mark several milestones as the U.S. 36 Express Lanes project nears completion. An express lane is currently being added in each direction on U.S. 36 from Federal Boulevard to Table Mesa between Boulder and Denver. RTD’s bus rapid transit service and high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) will operate in the express lanes. Single-passenger vehicles may choose to use the express lanes and pay a toll. In addition, there will be two free, general-purpose lanes in each direction for drivers who do not wish to pay a toll.While

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in February, improved in March. The index now stands at 101.3 (1985=100), up from 98.8 in February. The Expectations Index increased from 90.0 last month to 96.0 in March. The Present Situation Index, however, decreased from 112.1 in February to 109.1 in March. Consumers’ assessment of present-day conditions turned moderately less favorable for a second straight month. The percentage saying business conditions are “good” was unchanged at 26.7% while those claiming business conditions are “bad” increased from 16.7% to 19.4%.Consumers were mixed in their assessment of the job market. The proportion

MWH Constructors has hired Todd Larson as its global project delivery director of engineering and quality for infrastructure projects. Larson rejoins MWH after eight years with Black & Veatch. He will focus on design excellence in construction design-build operations and oversee the U.S. and U.K. design and estimating support teams as well as commissioning, start-up and quality. He is a licensed engineer in seven states. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Wells Squier has been promoted to partner at Anderson Hallas Architects in Golden, Colo. Squier has more than 16 years of experience and a master's degree in architecture

Construction firms added jobs in 43 states and the District of Columbia between January 2014 and January 2015 while construction employment increased in 31 states between December and January, according to a recent  analysis of Labor Dept. data by the Associated General Contractors of America. “Most of the country experienced a welcome rebound in construction employment last year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet it is unclear how public-sector demand and new regulatory requirements will overshadow relatively robust private-sector demand.”Texas added more new construction jobs (49,600 jobs, 7.9%) between January 2014 and January 2015 than any other state.

The Dodge Momentum Index increased to 126.3 (2000=100) in February, a gain of 4.3% from January’s 121.1, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. The Momentum Index has been exhibiting somewhat of a saw-tooth pattern of late, up in December, down in January and now up in February. Despite the volatility that is sometimes visible in planning data, the overall trend for the index continues to be

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s March 2015 Monthly Confidence Index revealed that confidence in the equipment finance market is at 72.1, the highest level in four years, and an increase from the February index of 66.3. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $903-billion equipment finance sector.Other March 2015 survey results include:• 50% of executives who responded said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, up from 30.3% in February. 50% of respondents believe

At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $724.3 billion, new construction starts in February advanced 16% compared to the previous month, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Much of the lift came from three massive projects valued each in excess of $1 billion that were included as February construction starts. The nonbuilding construction sector was boosted by an $8.4-billion liquefied natural gas export terminal in Louisiana and a $1.2-billion solar power facility in California, while nonresidential building registered a sharp gain partly as the result of a $3.0-billion petrochemical plant in Texas.  Residential building also strengthened in February, as growth

After its first negative score in 10 months, the Architecture Billings Index showed a nominal increase in design activity in February and has been positive for 10 out of the past 12 months. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending.The American Institute of Architects reported the February ABI score was 50.4, up slightly from a mark of 49.9 in January. This score reflects a minor increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index