World Fence News

72 • JUNE 2015 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Is your business or association positioned for the changing economy? Do you have the strategy in place to put you and your staff/members in the best position to succeed? If the answer to the above questions is anything other than a solid YES, then contact us to discuss possible ways we can help you to improve your overall operations and to help put you and your business or association in a better position to succeed. MANAGEMENT MOTIVATIONAL ASSOCIATES, INC. When you need an experienced executive level management consultant like Jim Lucci to review overall business strategy and procedures or business specifics such as sales training, staff motivation, time management, inventory control, scheduling, yard/warehouse layout, etc., call Jim Lucci at 516-379-0903 or fill out and return the coupon below by mail or fax to 516-379-2404 or contact us by e-mail at MMAJandJ@aol.com (please identify subject as consulting). We will contact you promptly to discuss your needs and schedule business, seminar, meeting or convention appointments and rates. Appointments may be made for personal appearances or telephone consultations. Fill out (please print) and return to: James V. (Jim) Lucci Management Motivational Associates, Inc. 18 Hansome Place • Freeport, NY 11520 • MMAJandJ@aol.com Please call me. I'm interested in ______________________________________________________ Telephone _______________________________ Convenient time ___________________________ Fax Number ____________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________ Name ______________________________________________________________________________ Name of Business/Organization _______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________ State ______ Zip ___________________________ World Fence News contributing editor Read Jim Lucci's monthly column: The Human Link • Jim's Byline: PROFIT IS NOT A DIRTY WORD!™ Past IFIA Convention speaker and presenter of Eastern International Convention keynote addresses Jim Lucci COUPON NEW YORK – New construction starts in March retreated 13% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $633.3 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analyt- ics. The decline followed strong gains in January (up 9%) and February (up 17%), when construction was lifted by the start of several massive proj- ects valued each in excess of $1 bil- lion, including four liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal projects, a pet- rochemical plant, and a solar power facility. While the March statistics did include the start of a $2.3 billion highway project in Florida, the boost coming from projects in excess of $1 billion was substantially less than what occurred during the first two months of the year. By major sector, March showed diminished activity for nonresidential building and nonbuilding construc- tion, while residential building held steady. For the first three months of 2015, total construction starts on an unad- justed basis were up 28% from the same period a year ago. If projects in excess of $1 billion are excluded, the result for total construction starts would be a 4% gain in March on a seasonally adjusted basis relative to February, and an 11% gain for the first three months of 2015 on an unadjust- ed basis relative to the same period a year ago. The March data produced a reading of 134 for the Dodge Index (2000 =100), compared to a revised 155 in February and a 132 in January. For all of 2014 the Dodge Index averaged 124. "The presence of unusually large projects will af- fect the month-to- month pattern for construction starts, and that's certain- ly been true during the early months of 2015," stated Rob- ert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. "The ele- vated activity in February exceeded the underlying trend for construction starts, and the March pullback returns activity to a more sustainable pace, at the same time showing an industry that's still in the midst of expansion. "While nonresidential building lost some momentum in March, the broad pattern over recent months re- veals more growth for commercial building combined with strengthen- ing for several institutional structure types, most notably school construc- tion," Murray reported. "Although there's concern that public works construction will be dampened by the uncertainty caused by the soon- to-expire federal transportation leg- islation, a healthy amount of highway and bridge work has reached the con- struction start stage so far in 2015. And, while residential building still awaits renewed upward progress by single family housing, the multifam- ily side of the housing market contin- ues to strengthen, as low vacancies and rising rents in numerous markets provide the justification for more con- struction." Nonresidential building in March fell 19% to $183.5 billion (annual rate), after surging 43% in February. The manufacturing building cat- egory in March plunged a steep 57% from its el- evated February pace. Although March did feature the start of several large manufactur- ing projects, such as a $751 million polyethylene plant and a $150 million cement plant ex- pansion, both located in Texas, the prior month had included the start of a $3 billion ethane cracker and propane dehydrogenation plant, also located in Texas. The commercial building group in March settled back 10%, after climbing 20% in February. Office construction registered a 20% slide in March, although the latest month did include the start of several noteworthy projects, including the $225 million expansion of the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., the $120 million Bristol-Myers Squibb office building in Lawrenceville, N.J., and the $82 million office portion of the $100 mil- lion Exchange Plaza mixed-use proj- ect in San Francisco. Also reporting a double-digit MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION STARTS Prepared by McGraw-Hill Construction Research & Analytics MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION STARTS Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions of Dollars March 2015 February 2015 Percent Change Nonresidential building $ 183,495 $ 225,212 – 19 Residential building 251,371 252,289 0 Nonbuilding construction 198,465 253,180 – 22 Total construction $ 633,331 $ 730,681 – 13 THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000 = 100, Seasonally Adjusted) March 2015 .................................... 134 February 2015 ................................ 155 YEAR-TO-DATE CONSTRUCTION STARTS Unadjusted Totals, in Millions of Dollars 3 Mos. 2015 3 Mos. 2014 Percent Change Nonresidential building $ 40,497 $ 36,903 + 10 Residential building 53,912 47,928 + 12 Nonbuilding construction 52,646 30,221 + 74 Total construction $ 147,055 $ 115,052 + 28 New construction starts in March retreat 13% continued on page 74 "While nonresidential building lost some momentum in March, the broad pattern over recent months reveals more growth for commercial building combined with strengthening for several institutional structural types, most notably school construction." – Robert A. Murray

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