Nov 28 2006
On October 27, 2006 at its 68th annual Outlook Executive Conference McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), released its 2007 Construction Outlook. This report coversconstruction market data and research, as well as the 2007 forecast.
The forecast is that the 2007 construction market will be a mix of pluses and minuses, with the net result that the forecast for total construction is $668 billion, a modest 1% decline.
The forecast will be influenced by the deflation of the single-family construction market, which boomed from 2000 - 2005, remaining high until 2006, when it deflated at a faster rate than expected. "Single-family housing has fallen more steeply than what we had anticipated, and the correction is taking place faster," states Robert Murray, McGraw-Hill Construction vice president of Economic Affairs and Chief Economist. He continues, stating that the construction industry "no longer has single-family housing to bolster total construction."
Despite this 5% forecasted decrease in single-family housing, the construction industry will have several growth sectors. Among the construction market data in the report's findings for 2007:
Institutional buildings will advance 7% in dollar volume and 4% in square footage.
Manufacturing building is expected to rise 14% from a lackluster 2006 performance.
Public works construction will grow 5% on top of the 10% increase in 2006 due to highway and bridge construction, as well as environmental projects.