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 feature articles.
Pending home sales — Feb. 27
The number of U.S. homes currently under contract rose 1.6% from November to December, ending 2016 on a high note. An uptick in new- and existing-home sales in January bodes well for another positive month on the pending-home sales front, with the former bouncing back with a 3.7% increase in January and the latter posting its strongest month in a decade with a 3.3% rise. The National Association of Realtors' will release its Pending Homes Sales Index on Monday, Feb. 27, which will offer more details as to whether the gains will continue, and at what pace.
Immigration crackdown's impact on construction feature — Feb. 28
President Donald Trump has made strict immigration enforcement a key component of his administration — a policy move that has the potential to significantly impact the construction industry. Amid a crippling labor shortage, some builders fear that a crackdown on undocumented immigrants could further exacerbate the tight labor market.
In our feature article on Tuesday, Feb. 28, we’ll talk with experts to find out how much of a threat deportations could pose to the industry, and what some of the outcomes might be.
Construction spending — March 1
The Commerce Department will release January construction spending results on Wednesday, March 1. Last month, the department announced that spending fell 0.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.182 trillion.
Private residential construction grew 0.5% in December, while private nonresidential construction remained stagnant from November. For the full year 2016, overall spending was 4.5% higher than 2015.
Will Wednesday's report show that activity rebounded at the start of the year, or will 2017 start on a down note?
Pipeline construction process feature — March 2
Pipeline news often focuses on the potential for spills or other post-construction mishaps. However, the construction process to build a pipeline — from choosing a route to the development of the project — can be a complex and impressive undertaking. In our feature article on Thursday, March 2, we'll explore the factors involved with pipeline construction.
