NEW YORK (November 19, 2013) – A spike in construction-related fatalities coupled with a looming labor shortage highlight the need for a renewed focus on safety and leadership within the construction industry, Marsh said in a new report. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private construction sector deaths in the U.S. increased 5 percent to 775 in 2012, marking the first annual increase in work-related fatalities since 2006.

CHICAGO (November 15, 2013) - The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in Springfield, Va., has earned national recognition in the 2013 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2). In honor of this achievement, members of the project team will be presented with awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) during a ceremony at the project site on Nov. 19.

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 15, 2013) – FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of its 2013 U.S. Construction Industry Talent Development Report. The report is based on responses nationwide from a mix of general contractors and construction managers at firms of all sizes and specialties, including mechanical/plumbing and heavy/highway/civil.

NORCROSS, Ga. (November 14, 2013) – Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Hyundai Construction Equipment’s parent company, recently made a donation of $200,000 via the Korean Red Cross in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which caused catastrophic damage to the Philippines.

The company also dispatched a 21-ton class excavator, a backhoe loader and experienced operators to the area to assist in recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON (November 12, 2013) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the LEED Fellows Class of 2013. The LEED Fellows program recognizes exceptional contributions to the green building community as well as significant achievements within a growing community of LEED Professionals.

Industry’s unemployment rate drops to 9 percent as firms appear to suffer little short-term impact from 16-day federal government shutdown.

(November 8, 2013) - Construction employment hit a 50-month high as employers added 11,000 jobs in October, the fifth consecutive month of sector job gains, and the industry unemployment rate fell to 9 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Firm releases annual U.S. Markets Construction Overview.

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 7, 2013) — FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, announced the release of its 2014 U.S. Markets Construction Overview. With construction put in place at the end of 2013 expected to be at $909.6 billion, researchers at FMI predict CPIP growth rates to be slightly ahead of the GDP in 2014.

Other predictions include the following:

WAUKESHA, Wis.-(Nov. 1, 2013) - Generac Holdings Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, announced the closing of the purchase agreement with Baldor Electric Company (“Baldor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABB Group, to acquire substantially all of the assets of Baldor’s generator products division (“Baldor Generators”).

Helmut Claas, Ray O’Connor and Friedrich Schwing, Sr., honored

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces the 2013 inductees into the AEM Hall of Fame, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding individuals in the off-road equipment industry, and their legacy of innovation, service and leadership.

MOLINE, Ill. (November 4, 2013) - Total equipment rental revenue in North America for 2013 is expected to reach $38.0 billion, according to the latest figures released by the American Rental Association (ARA) from its ARA Rental Market Monitor service updated in late October. This figure represents a 6.2 percent increase over 2012 with fourth quarter revenue growth projected to be 7.1 percent.

RALEIGH, N.C. (October 28, 2013) – FMI, a leading provider of management consulting and investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of its 2013 study on prefabrication and modularization in construction. The report is based on the survey results from construction managers, general contractors, as well as electrical and mechanical contractors.

CHICAGO (October 29, 2013) - Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., has earned national recognition in the 2013 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2). In honor of this achievement, members of the project team will be presented with awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) during a ceremony at the project site on Oct. 30 at noon.

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (October 28, 2013) - Architects, engineers and contractors are making plans to take the LEED exams before the cut-off deadline of May 31, 2014. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that applicants can take the exams based on LEED v2009 materials until the 2014 sunset date. The new exams, which will be available after June 2014, are expected to be more difficult due to the addition of new credits and a new credit category.

September new business is down 6 percent year-over-year, up 20 percent month-to-month and up 6 percent year-to-date.

WASHINGTON (October 23, 2013) — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $725 billion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for September was $7.7 billion, down 6 percent compared to volume in September 2012.

The industry was doing "relatively well" in months prior to federal government shutdown, but quick passage of water resources legislation is needed to help the industry recover from a likely October slowdown, officials say.

(October 22, 2013) - Construction employment rose by 20,000 in September, and the industry’s unemployment rate fell to a six-year low of 8.5 percent, while construction spending increased for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the data does not address any potential impacts from the recent federal government shutdown.

WASHINGTON (October 21, 2013) – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) released the October 2013 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $725 billion equipment finance sector.

WASHINGTON (October 15, 2013) — New business volume grew 16.4 percent in the equipment finance industry in 2012, according to the 2013 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity (SEFA) released by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). The growth in volume was on par with the 16.5 percent increase reported for 2011, and well above the 3.9 percent increase reported for 2010 and the 30.3 percent decline in 2009.