NPCA report tracks minor gain in 2012 precast shipments, better 2013 prospects

Sources: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.; CP staff

After several years of stagnation, the precast concrete industry is turning the corner in recovery from the Great Recession, with NPCA’s 2013 Benchmarking Report indicating 2 percent higher volume in 2012 over the prior year—coupled with a near-doubling of profit margins, from 2.5 percent to 4.9 percent.

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AIA tracks spike in projects idled by financing issues

Sources: McGraw-Hill Construction, New York; American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C.

Drawing on McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge data, a new AIA report finds the share of projects—led by those in the education and multifamily sectors—stalled due to financing problems has nearly doubled since 2008. “Stalled Construction Projects and Financing” correlates the challenges of construction financing to the incidence of stalled projects in the U.S.

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Report tracks $100 billion road & bridge cost spike in fly ash absence

The cloud of proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations governing the handling and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR), including construction-grade fly ash, prompted an American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) report to forecast potential economic impacts on the subtraction of ASTM C 618 product from the transportation infrastructure supply chain.

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