4Q COST REPORT
The extreme materials price escalation that hounded the construction industry for the last three years may have run its course. ENR’s annual forecast calls for  overall construction inflation to slip back below 3% as most materials prices ease in 2007, with the biggest cuts coming for steel and wood products. But the downward adjustment will be modest compared to the strong increase recorded between 2004 and 2006. Despite the slowdown in housing, overall market activity will remain strong, keeping pressure on labor costs, which will become the new driver for industry inflation. Strong global construction markets also will help prop up higher costs in most regions of the world, especially in the energy and industrial process sectors.

1. LEGISLATION
   Construction Funding Is Left Hanging
2. PETROLEUM
   Mississippi To Host New U.S. Reserve
3. BRIDGES
   Tacoma Narrows Decks Are Lifted into Place
4. FAILURES
   Cause of High-Rise Roof Slab Collapse Remains a Mystery
5. PORTS
   Design-Build Road Helps Private Port
6. ACCIDENTS
   Washington State Ponders Stiffer Crane Standards
7. ROADS
   Seattle Viaduct’s Fate Is Debated
8. PRESERVATION
   WTC Steel Artifacts Stabilized For the Sake of History
9. WATER QUALITY
   Report Says Tame CSOs To Keep Great Lakes Clean

1. Construction Economics
2. Construction Week
   
3. Editorials
   
4. Equipment Tracks & Trends
   
5. Letters
   
6. Products
   
7. Pulse
   
8. Washington Observer

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