State Construction on Pace for Best Year in ‘90s

Construction in California was up in the first nine months of 1999, compared with the same period a year ago, and was on course for the best 12-month performance this decade, according to an industry report. The Construction Industry Research Board said construction volume in California through September was $37.9 billion, up 12.8% from the same period a year ago. The report also forecast that the state’s construction activity for the full year would rise 8.5% from 1998 to $52.76 billion. That would be the highest total since it hit $48.92 billion in 1990. It would also be a nearly 50% increase from the recession low of 1993, when total construction volume was $35.26 billion.