The 2007 Construction Outlook Midyear Update is a 14 page report on industry trends and detailed economic forecasts that will affect the construction industry in 2007 authored by Robert Murray, MHC's Chief Economist. It updates last year's McGraw-Hill Construction 2007 Construction Outlook, including information on the current economic environment, an overview of different construction markets, and construction forecast tables. More comprehensive data and a 2008 outlook will be available in October at the McGraw-Hill Construction 69th annual Outlook Executive Conference (October 25, 2007, Washington, DC), which will include information on industry trends and a detailed economic forecast that will affect the construction industry in 2007. Visit http://www.construction.com/event/Outlook2008/ for more information and look for the report on sale in October. Your Competitive Advantage
Get a closer look at a competitor, partner or potential acquisition. Find out how McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics can change the ways you do business and pick up the pace of your decision cycle. More detailed and longer term projects are available from McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics group in Lexington, Massachusetts. For further information on the purchase of statistical and forecast products, please call 1-800-591-4462, or visit the McGraw-Hill Construction website at www.construction.com. Contents
Page 1. Introduction Page 1. Economic Environment: U.S. economy, patterns of materials prices, the financing environment
Graphs (9) : Dodge Construction Starts 2001-2007 (billions of dollars); Real GDP Growth 2001-2007 (annualized percent change); Change in Employment 2001-2007 (thousands of workers); Monetary Policy 2001-2007 (Federal Funds Rate, percent); PPI, Construction Materials 2001-2007; PPI, Iron and Steel Products 2001-2007; PPI, Cement 2001-2007; PPI, Lumber and Wood Products 2001-2007; PPI, Gypsum Products 2001-2007 Page 4. Single Family Housing: Narrative on the performance and forecasts of single family housing
Graphs (2) : Single Family Housing (thousands of units) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Mortgage Rates - 30 Year Fixed 2001-2007 Page 5. Income Properties: Summary of the performance of income properties: Stores and Shopping Centers, Commercial Warehouses, Office Buildings, Hotels and Motels, Multifamily Housing.
Graphs (5) : Stores and Shopping Centers (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Warehouses (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Offices (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Hotels (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Multifamily Housing (thousands of units) 1987-2007 (two-year increments) Page 6. Forecast Tables - Construction Starts 2007 National and Regional Estimates: Residential Building, Nonresidential Building, Nonbuilding Construction, All Construction. Table Headings: 2005 Actual, 2006 Actual, 2007 Forecast, Percent Change 2007/2006. Includes maps of U.S. regions covered. Page 9. Institutional Buildings: Summary about the overall performance of institutional buildings: Educational Buildings, Healthcare Facilities, Other Institutional Buildings
Graphs (5) : Educational Buildings (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Hospitals and Other Health Facilities (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Public Buildings (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Amusement and Recreational Buildings (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Religious Buildings (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments) Page 10. Manufacturing Buildings: Summary of the overall performance of manufacturing buildings.
Graphs (1) : Manufacturing Buildings (millions of square feet) 1987-2007 (two-year increments) Page 11. Public Works and Electric Utilities: Summary of the overall performance of public works and electric utilities: Highways and Bridges, Environmental Public Works, and Electric Utilities.
Graphs (5) : Highways and Bridges (billions of dollars) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Dams and Water Resources (billions of dollars) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Sewer Systems (billions of dollars) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Water Supply Systems (billions of dollars) 1987-2007 (two-year increments); Electric Utilities (billions of dollars) 1987-2007 (two-year increments) Page 13. The Shape of 2007: Synopsis of overall gain of the various construction sectors, factors affecting the rest of the year's construction environment. About the Author
Robert Murray
Vice President, Economic Affairs McGraw-Hill Construction
Robert Murray is vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, the leading source of project news, product information, industry analysis and editorial coverage for design and construction professionals. Murray joined McGraw-Hill Construction in 1980 as an economist, with a primary focus on analyzing construction industry trends. In the mid-1980s he directed a team of economists that developed the Construction Market Forecasting Service, providing five-year projections for 22 building types by nine regions of the U.S. This product has subsequently become the pre-eminent forecast of the nation's construction industry, and it serves as the foundation for other construction and real estate forecast products offered by McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics. Murray is the author of the McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook, and also coordinates the five-year industry forecast and the Construction Market Forecasting Service, which analyzes national and regional trends for building products. He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University, and holds both an M.B.A. and a Master 's degree in economics from Columbia University. | 
