n3 yEeRs oil CEUFORilN STREEr

Conslruction Contrqcls Up Agoin

Despite the hesitancy evident elsewhere in the economy, construction contracts in June pushed ahead on a seasonally adjusted basis.

'fhe $3,899,598.000 total reported for the month by F. W. Dodge Corporatron scored an increase of 8 per cent over June, 1961, and rose 2,5 per cent above May wherr measured by the seasonally adjusted Dodge index.

"Construction continues to be a major bulwark of the economy," said Dr. Gordon W. McKinley, Dodge vice president and chief economist. "Particularly heartening in the June figures is the strength in commercial building, wlrich was al-read of the like 1961 month by 19 per cent, and in utilities, which exceeded June 1961 by 45 per cent. The total heavy engineering category, which includes both utilities and public works, rang rlp ,a 22 per cent increase over June, 1961, and for the first six months of the year is ahead of the same period in 1961 by 17 per cent."

"Despite this very fine overall re,cord," said Dr. NIcKinley, "there are some disquieting signs in the June figures. Manufacturing contracts turned in a very poor showing, dropping substantially below June, 1961. In the residential category, single family homes dropped one per cent below the same month in 1961 The continued strength in apartment buildings rvas sufficient to keep the total residential category well above June of last year, but the abrupt decline in single-family homes is disconcerting."

McKinley u'ent on to point out that the construction strike ir-r California uuquestionablv had some influence orl new contracts. "Whethir the effeit of the stril<e rvas suffrcient to account for the disappointing showing of manufacturing buildings and single family homes cannot be determined until the July figures begin to co,me in. NIy own gness is that its principal impact on contracts has beett ir-r tl.re residential field."

F. \\'. Dodge Corporation reported that for tl-re first six months of 1962, total construction contracts amounted to $21,047,478,000, 16 per cent above the first half of 1961 and substantially above any previo'us year. Within the overall total, non-residential building was ahead by 11 per cent, residential building by 18 per cent, and heavv errgineering by 17 per cent. The largest increases for the six months rvere achieved by apartment buildings (up 64 per cent), sewerage systems (up 31 per cent), and electric light and power svstems (up 39 per cent).

According to the Dodge report, total housing units in residential contracts in the first six months of 1962 r'r,ere ahead of the comparable period of 1961 by 16 per cent. Apartmer.rt buildings accounted for 31.4 per cent of tterv housing units, compared to 23.5 per cent in the first half of 1961, an<l 19.1 per cent in the first half of 1960.

LA Women in Construclion Elecis Ofiicers

Election of a new slate of officers for 1962-63 took place at the July meeting of the Los Angeles chapter of Womerr in Construction. Heading the slate is Dorothy E. O'Conttor, engineering uelvs editor of Southwest Builder & Contractor's Daily Construction Reports ("Greeu Sheet"), newly elected president; Donna Johnson (The Plan Room Building), vice president; Margaret Anderson (Hay Agency), treasurer; Ruth Knight (Daniel, Mann, Johrrsor-r & Mendenhall), recording-secretary and Ione Hurley (Building Contractors Association of California), correspor.rding-secretary.

National Convention of Women in Construction is scheduled for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 73-lS, 1962The California delegation will be headed by members from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento.

"A Day at the Races" with a special race named for Women in Construction (Los Angeles and San Diego Chapters) u'as held August l1 at Del Mar Race Track. Members, their friends and families were invited.

D. C. H'SLEY, GENERAT CHAIRXTAN. AND THE tOS ANGETES AREA COflITITTEE

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