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Date Posted: December 7 2007

Construction drops 10% from '06 to '07
New U.S. construction starts in October stayed essentially the same as September, but dropped significantly in the first 10 months of 2007 compared to a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, in a Nov. 21 report.

While total construction was unchanged, there was a varied performance by construction's main sectors. Nonresidential building showed renewed growth after retreating in September, but a loss of momentum was reported for residential building and public works.

During the first ten months of 2007, total construction on an unadjusted basis came in at $530 billion, down 10% from the same period of 2006. However, excluding residential building, new U.S. construction starts in the first ten months of 2007 advanced 4% compared to last year.

"Homebuilding has weakened steadily over the course of 2007, but nonresidential building through October has held up fairly well," stated Robert A. Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction. "For 2007 as a whole, nonresidential building should be able to register its fifth straight year of expansion, when viewed in current dollar terms. Tighter lending conditions and slower employment growth have not yet had much of a negative impact on nonresidential building,
although some dampening is likely to become more discernible in the coming year."

By geography, total construction in the January-October period for the Midwest region was down 8 percent.


IBEW Local 58's Jerry Carney dies
Gerald James "Jerry" Carney, a retired IBEW Local 58 union member and business agent, passed away in his home on Nov. 25, 2007. He was 68.

Jerry served his country as a Marine during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and worked as a journeyman electrician beginning in 1970. He was a business agent with IBEW Local 58 in Detroit from 1983 to 1997. He was involved with the Local 58 Political Action Committee as well as the PAC for the Detroit Building Trades Council.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, children Michael, Mark and Eileen (Crider) three grandchildren, and siblings Jane (Mackey), Jim Carney and , Janet (Stapleton) and Joseph Carney, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

"Doing the political stuff wasn't easy, but he knew it had to be done, because he knew how important it was to working people," said his brother Joe, a fellow Local 58 member. "Jerry was always looking out for workers and the labor movement."