The 2008 Construction Outlook Midyear Update (individual report price is $295.00) is a 14 page report on industry trends and detailed economic forecasts that will affect the construction industry in 2008 authored by Robert Murray, MHC's Chief Economist. It updates last year's McGraw-Hill Construction 2008 Construction Outlook, including information on the current economic environment, an overview of different construction markets, and construction forecast tables.

The information provided by Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, was presented at the McGraw-Hill Construction's Engineering News-Record (ENR) and the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Forum on June 11, 2008 in St. Louis, MO. The report will share facts and figures for planning in this year's bumpy market with the Forum's 300 attendees. Mr. Murray's update to the 2008 projections for U.S. construction start activity will offer insights on changing prospects for nonresidential building and public works. This will be the first presentation of 2008 where the Economic Outlook Midyear Report will be distributed.

2008 Construction Outlook Midyear Update Excerpt:

The shifting climate is reflected in the year-end balance figures for all fifty states, expressed as a percent of total revenue. The Fiscal Survey estimates that the year-end balance for fiscal 2007 was 9.5%, down from the record high of 11.5% set in fiscal 2006. For fiscal 2008, a year-end balance of 6.7% is forecast, which depicts reasonable health by the standards of recent years. However, the growing fiscal stress at the state level suggests that the 6.7% estimate may be too optimistic. The erosion in state fiscal health currently underway is likely contribute to a construction slowdown for institutional building and public works over the next few quarters.

The California Construction Outlook 2008: Midyear Update (individual report price is $295.00) provides an up-to-date 2008 forecast for the metro area's residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and non-building construction markets.

The California Construction Outlook 2008: Midyear Update includes 5-6 pages of written analysis about recent developments in the California area's economy and their impact on 2008 construction activity.

The California Construction Outlook 2008: Midyear Update not only provides a detailed forecast of construction, but also a list of the largest projects that have started and a list of the architects, general contractors, and owners who are most active in the California area.

The Data Tables within the California Construction report include five years of historical trends and a one-year forecast for:

• Single Family and Multifamily Housing
• Commercial Properties (Retail, Office, Hotel, and other)
• Institutional Buildings (Education, Healthcare, and other)
• Manufacturing Buildings
• Public Works (streets, bridges, and water resources and other)
• Electric Utilities

The Data Tables also include:
* Largest projects started since January 2007
* Most active owners, architects, and general contractors since January 2006

The McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook Reports are valuable for owners, developers, GCs, building product manufacturing firms, architectural and design firms, financial and real estate firms, and other industry related professionals as they plan for 2008 and beyond.