105.3%
Percentage increase in U.S. manufacturing technology consumption in 2011 compared to 2010 based on the “United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption Report.” With a year-to-date total of $1,595.98 million in orders, recent levels of outstanding order activity are now approaching pre-recession levels.
Source: The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association
22
Number of states, plus the District of Columbia, that added jobs in the construction industry over the past year, according to analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of state employment data released by the Labor Department. Association officials said the figures reflect the fact that industry-wide employment has stagnated as a result of tepid demand for most private construction and declines in public construction. “It’s not surprising to see close to an even split between states adding and losing jobs, given that year-over-year construction employment for May was unchanged,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “There just isn’t enough demand for new construction to drive nationwide boosts in construction employment.”
Source: Associated General Contractors of America
>40%
Percentage of non-residential construction projects in which design-build was used in 2010, according to a new study analyzing the design-build project delivery method in the United States. This total represents a 10% increase from 2005 for design-build, which is an integrated approach that delivers design and construction services under one contract with a single point of responsibility.
Source: Design-Build Institute of America
63%
Percentage of architects surveyed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently who reported that they have at least one stalled project due to lack of financing, despite record low interest rates. The survey of April business activity was taken as part of the AIA’s Architectural Billings Index (ABI), a leading monthly economic indicator of construction activity that provides a nine- to 12-month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. Of the 63% of firms surveyed with stalled projects, the average value of each project was almost $50 million per firm.
Source: American Institute of Architects
2%
Percentage increase in the value of non-residential construction starts in January through May as compared to the same year-to-date period in 2010. “Individual month of May starts were 26.5% above April (about 15% after seasonal adjustment) and 17% above last May,” says Chief Economist Jim Haughey. “May 2011 starts were slightly above the average starts level over the past year and were the highest total since last November.”
Source: Reed Construction Data
