Last month, I wrote about how population growth is one of the biggest drivers of the entire housing market, including new and existing homes. Why? Because population growth helps drive housing formations. The majority of household formations occur when a group of young Millennials or Gen-Zers leave their parents’ basements and decide to room together, usually in connection with a…
Read MoreDay: May 8, 2023
Paying for the Sins of the Past
Let’s be real clear on something: 29 fatalities last year in the mining industry is 29 too many. Even one occupational injury is one too many. Christopher J. Williamson, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health (MSHA), recently penned a letter to the mining community pointing out those 29 fatalities; remarking on an unusually deadly start to 2023;…
Read MoreFIRST LOOK – May 2023
TOP NEWS Caterpillar, Luck Stone in Autonomous Collaboration Luck Stone’s and Caterpillar’s partnership on autonomous hauling goes back at least to the 1990s, Charlie Luck, president and CEO of Luck Companies, told Rock Products. Heidelberg Materials Acquires RMS GravelHeidelberg Materials announced that it has acquired all operating assets and reserves of RMS Gravel Inc., a producer of high-quality sand and gravel…
Read MoreThe Aggregates Producer Price Index
Aggregates Prices Rise In The United States By 1.5% In The First Quarter Of 2023. By Barry Hudson This is the fifth in a series of articles on pricing. -Ed. The 1.5% rise in the average price of aggregates in the first quarter of 2023 comes after a higher price rise (4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022). The price…
Read MoreDodge Momentum Index Declines In April
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, fell 5.1% in April to 180.9 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 190.6. In April, the commercial component of the DMI fell 8.0%, and the institutional component improved 0.3%. “On par with our expectations, the Dodge Momentum Index continued to recede in April, due to declining economic conditions and…
Read MoreNSSGA Calls On Congress to Address Permitting
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) called on congressional leaders to address permitting in its pending debt limit deal. “The last two years we have witnessed remarkable legislative success with the administration and Congress in advancing the largest infrastructure investment in our nation’s history, a revitalization of our domestic manufacturing base and a reshaping of our energy future,”…
Read MoreCEMEX U.S. Operations Up 5% in First Quarter
CEMEX reported net sales increased 9% to $4,036 million in the first quarter of 2023. The strong results are attributable to pricing, decelerating input cost inflation and contributions from the company’s growth investments and the Urbanization Solutions business, the company stated. CEMEX said its operations in the United States achieved a net sales increase of 5% to $1,255 million despite…
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