Economy Watch

Economy Watch Weekly: Declining Unemployment, Strong Prospects Define 2018
Unemployment rates in May 2018 were lower than a year earlier. Despite labor shortages and rising interest rates, contractors were optimistic in the first quarter of 2018. Economy Editor Dees Stribling gives a breakdown of this topic, for the week ending June 29, 2018. 
Economy Watch: July 4th Travel to Set Record
Nearly 47 million Americans are expected to venture 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day holiday, an increase of more than 5 percent compared to 2017.
Economy Watch: Most Metro Areas See Declining Unemployment
Low unemployment isn't just reflected in a national number. The vast majority of U.S. metros have low unemployment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Economy Watch: SIOR Reports Strong Outlook for Growth in 2018
The members of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors are optimistic, about the state of the economy and their local markets.
Economy Watch: Second Half of ’18 Should See Strong Economy
T. Rowe Price predicts that the world economy, and especially the U.S., will continue to grow in the second half of the year, despite volatility.
Economy Watch Weekly: US Economic Expansion Enters Third Cycle
Economy Editor Dees Stribling offers an outlook on the longest economic cycle in U.S. history, based on the Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s midyear analysis.
Economy Watch: Contractors Expect 2018 to Remain Strong
Despite macroeconomic challenges, nonresidential contractors are optimistic about prospects for the rest of the year, the Associated Builders and Contractors' Construction Confidence Index shows.
Economy Watch: Office Construction Robust, More Focused on Downtowns
Development is at an above-average rate and more focused on urban core locations than in previous decades, a recent Newmark Knight Frank report shows.
Economy Watch: Architects Even Busier in May
The American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index rose to 52.8, an uptick compared to April, which bodes well for construction spending in the upcoming year.
Economy Watch: Construction Project Backlog Eases in First Quarter
The number of U.S. construction projects under contract has expanded since this time last year in most sectors, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.
Economy Watch Weekly: Retail Market Remains Strong Despite Decline
Most retail categories gained ground for the month. However, there were a few losers such as furniture stores, down 2.4 percent. Economy Editor Dees Stribling gives a breakdown of the retail sales market, for the week ending June 15, 2018. 
Economy Watch: US Expansion Showing Its Age, Wells Fargo Reports
The U.S. economic expansion, now the second-longest ever, is looking a little long in the tooth, but REIT fundamentals are still strong.