economics
Federal funding pitfall prompts states to increase gas taxes
Six states will increase their gas taxes July 1 as a means to replace lacking federal funds for highway projects, according to the Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). The Hill reports that… Keep Reading
Positive signs at mid-year
Economist and Pit & Quarry columnist Dr. David Chereb says most things continue to be positive for construction materials. The economy is growing, albeit slowly, inflation and interest rates are very low, and employment is gaining. Add to that the… Keep Reading
Firm scales back 2015 construction outlook
Construction activities are expected to grow at 5 percent this year, FMI Corp. reports, leveling off from a previous forecast of 8 percent that the firm produced. Although the new prediction is significantly lower than last quarter, FMI reports that… Keep Reading
Economics Pulse: Construction materials update
The first quarter of 2015 brought four areas of interest to the construction materials sector: year-end earnings reports; the first initial public offering in the sector in more than a decade; continued anticipation of the industry’s merger of its two… Keep Reading
Vulcan’s Hill reinforces positive outlook for 2015
Tom Hill, president and CEO of Vulcan Materials Co., offered an updated outlook of 2015 for his company following the release of its latest quarterly report. According to Hill, demand for aggregates remains strong and Vulcan is experiencing accelerating momentum… Keep Reading
Nye looks forward, back for Martin Marietta
Ward Nye, chairman, president and CEO of Martin Marietta Materials Inc., offered some perspective on the company's recent performance and an outlook for the remainder of 2015 upon the release of Martin Marietta's latest quarterly report. According to Nye, the… Keep Reading
Aggregates volume, pricing growth drive Martin Marietta’s first quarter
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. experienced improved margins and increased profitability during the first quarter of 2015. In fact, Martin Marietta reports it achieved a first-quarter profit for the first time in seven years. Ward Nye, Martin Marietta's chairman, president and… Keep Reading
Bad news for frac sand
Two recent reports paint a negative picture of the frac sand market for the foreseeable future. The first, from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), says the number of man-made earthquakes is on the rise owing to the boom in oil… Keep Reading
CEMA reports increase in North America shipments
The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) reports that shipments in North America were up 9.1 percent in 2014. CEMA estimates that shipments totaled more than $11 billion for 2014, a record level increase of $926 million from 2013 shipments of… Keep Reading
