2009 in review
2009 was a tough year for the construction industry. McGraw Hill Construction estimated the value of new construction starts at $419 billion, a 25 percent decline that followed shortfalls of 13 percent in 2008 and 7 percent in 2007. The earlier retrenchment was led by single-family housing, but in 2009, multifamily housing and commercial buildings showed substantial weakness. Even typically stronger segments, such as educational buildings and health care facilities, lost considerable momentum in 2009. See story.
Like most other industries, glass and glazing folks struggled with lay-offs, bankruptcies and closed shops. Below are the top 15 most clicked news items from 2009.
1. Arch Aluminum CEO discusses bankruptcy filing
Q&A with Leon Silverstein
2. Oldcastle customers ponder Schofield plant closing
3. PPG Industries to close plants, slash 2,500 jobs
4. Arch Aluminum and Glass files Chapter 11
5. Davidson, Guardian owner and CEO, dies
6. Coastal Glass to cease operation
7. Forecast update: When will construction hit bottom?
8. Alcoa desperate for cash
9. Lee and Cates Glass VP arrested
10. Efco opens three new distribution centers
11. AGC Flat Glass lays off workers
12. Man dies after shop’s glass door falls on him
13. C.R. Laurence acquires Ebor Group Holdings
14. PPG profit slumps 65 percent in fourth quarter
15. Cardinal Solar Technologies production could start in June
The top five blogs that got most responses in 2009 were:
1. Warning: Fake shipping company scam
3. Arch files for bankruptcy. What’s next?
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