Each Monday, we'll let you know what's coming in the week ahead, including important residential and commercial report releases, as well as our own feature articles.
Court decision on union labor feature article — Sept. 27
A decision earlier this month from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that Jersey City, NJ's requirement of project labor agreements on large-scale, tax-funded projects violates federal laws. In our feature article on Tuesday, Sept. 27, we'll share what implications the decision could have for other areas of the country and for the future of union labor.
Pending home sales — Sept. 29
The National Association of Realtors will release pending home sales data for August on Thursday, Sept. 29. Last month, the NAR reported pending sales rose 1.3% in July to a rate of 111.3.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun attributed the significant jump in July to a 7.3% surge in pending home sales in the West. However, he added that tight inventory continues to limit stronger growth in the market — an ongoing concern for the residential industry.
Housing market reports this month have been mixed. Builder confidence jumped six points to its highest level in nearly a year, but housing starts fell 5.8% and existing-home sales slipped 0.9%. Will Thursday's pending sales data add a more positive report to the mix?
Environmental concerns of concrete feature article — Sept. 29
The debate over steel and concrete vs. wood construction methods is continuing to heat up in the building industry. We've previously explored wood construction and the growing popularity of cross-laminated timber high-rises. In our feature article on Thursday, Sept. 29, experts will explain the pros and cons of concrete and whether its impact on the environment should be a long-term concern.
