Ken Simonson
Ken Simonson
success
It showed a little more success than I had expected.
november october revised september spending
Construction spending in November outpaced even the upwardly revised October and September totals.
immigrants impact noticeable percentage took
If a substantial percentage of the immigrants took the day away from work, that would have a noticeable impact on construction.
cement concrete continuing demand expect healthy higher increases price prices push spot
For 2006, I expect to see healthy demand for nonresidential construction but also double-digit price increases for many construction inputs. I expect continuing spot shortages of cement that will push concrete prices higher nationwide.
consumer costs materials period prolonged rapidly rise
I think we're in for a prolonged period in which construction materials costs are going to rise more rapidly than consumer costs.
impact
I think the impact is going to be nationwide for construction.
categories highways leading percent private shopping
The leading categories have been multi-retail (general merchandise, shopping centers, and shopping malls), up 25 percent year-to-date; manufacturing construction, 23 percent; private multifamily, 21 percent; hospitals, 13 percent; private single-family, 12 percent; and highways and streets, 11 percent.
eerie leave roof uncovered
It's an eerie challenge. You don't want to leave the roof uncovered in a place like that.
equipment expensive harder kinds rubber steel
Rubber for construction equipment tires, (Sheetrock) and some kinds of steel may also be harder to find or more expensive because of the storms.
adding expect jobs modest
I still expect construction to be adding jobs but at a more modest pace.
damage extent happens jobs machines manpower recovery road seen until
Historically, recovery from catastrophes happens very rapidly, but I don't think we've ever seen road damage to the extent we have seen here. I would think they would find the machines and manpower to do road repairs because you can't get to the other jobs until you have access.
assume higher pass
You can't assume contractors will automatically pass on higher costs.
capacity expanding growing meet problem spot
Availability is going to be even more of a problem in 2006 than it was in 2005. In 2005 you had spot shortages. In 2006, nonresidential construction is growing and capacity is not expanding to meet those needs.
break check houses sell signed throw wait
They used to throw up houses and try to sell them. Now, they wait for a signed check before they break ground.