New construction starts are forecast to rise 6 percent this year to $506 billion, according to the Midyear Update to the 2013 Construction Outlook from McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. This is the same rate of increase for total construction starts that was predicted last October, and follows the 8 percent gain that took place in…
Read MoreDay: August 19, 2013
Deere Announces Third-Quarter Record Earnings
Net income attributable to Deere & Co. in the third quarter was $996.5 million, or $2.56 per share, for the third quarter ended July 31, compared with $788.0 million, or $1.98 per share, for the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, net income attributable to Deere & Co. was $2.730 billion, or $6.97 per…
Read MoreHousing Starts Rise 5.9 Percent in July
Nationwide housing starts rose 5.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 896,000 units in July as multifamily construction rebounded from a dip in the previous month, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, single-family construction recorded a modest decline from a rate that was upwardly revised for the previous month.
Read MoreMultifamily Building Segment Looking Good
The Freddie Mac Multifamily Research Group released its mid-year multifamily outlook for 2013, which includes a new Freddie Mac Multifamily Investment Index that measures the attractiveness for investing in apartment properties. The new Index shows that apartments are still a good investment in most metropolitan markets it tracks.
Read MoreSecond Half Economy Looking Up, Says ABC
Nonresidential fixed investment in structures expanded 4.6 percent on an annualized basis during the second quarter of 2013, according to the July 31 gross domestic product (GDP) report by the U.S. Commerce Department. This increase followed a 4.6 percent decline in the first quarter of the year.
Read MorePayne & Dolan Buys Vulcan Quarry
A Vulcan Materials quarry in Caledonia, Wis., was sold for $3.2 million to Waukesha, Wis.-based asphalt paving company Payne & Dolan, according to the Journal Times.
Read MoreWelcome, Mr. Johnson
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Michael W. Johnson, who this month begins his tenure as president and CEO of The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. He succeeds our old friend, the much-respected R. A. “Gus” Edwards, III, who is retiring after more than 16 successful years with NSSGA.
Read MoreWISA Members Go Green
According to the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association (WISA), three member companies were accepted into the Wisconsin DNR Green Tier program for environmental stewardship.
Read MoreReview Process for Frac Sand Plants Being Discussed
The Buffalo County Land Resources Department is drafting guidelines to help towns review proposed frac sand mining projects, according to the Winona Daily News. The guidelines are the next step toward allowing towns to have direct input on proposals in their jurisdiction, a plan the county included in its updated frac sand regulations earlier this year.
Read MoreXTO Energy Agrees to $100K Fine for Wastewater Spill
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice reached a settlement with XTO Energy on July 18 over alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) stemming from a spill of gas drilling wastewater in central Pennsylvania.
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