SOUTHITIISTERII

PORTT,AIID CTI}TITYf COTITPAI|I at our Vidorille, Cdilonrict "Wel Procers" MilL lm4 $ribhire f,oulevcrd Ioe Aageler ll, Cclilottris

Telephoae Mldiroa 6-6711

New Construction Activity in November

Nonresidential building expanded in November partially ofisetting a decline in home building to hold total construction activity at a record level for this season of the year, the Building I\,Iaterials Division of the U. S. Department of Commerce and the U. S. Labor Department's Bureau of I-abor Statistics reported today. The total value of all types of new construction put in place during November amounted to more than $21 brllion, ofi by 8 per cent from October 1950, but 23 per cent above the total for November 1949.

A further tapering-ofi in the 1950 housing boom *'as indicated by a larger-than-seasonal drop of l0 per cent from October in the value of work done on ner,l- private residential buildings. At $l ,020 million, the value of nerv private dwelling construction in November rvas still 36 per cent above a year ago' holvever,'and the highest November total on record.

The rnoderate rise in nonresidential building activity resulted from contra-seasonal gains of 5-10 per cent in commercial and industrial building and smaller increases in construction of religious, private educational, and hospital buildings. Effects of the order on nerv construction for social and recreational purposes began to shou' up u'ith a small decrease in construction activitl'on projects in that category.

Desrrite the decline in November, private homebuilding continrre<l to be the largest single factor in establishing 1950 as the record vear for expenditures on new construction' Private resi<lential builcling (including nerv drvelling units, additions and alterations, and nonhousekeepine residential structures) accoturted for M per cent of the total value of all t1'pes of new construction in November and for 45 per cent of total new constntction <luring the first eleven months of 1950' Private construction other than residential building made up only D per cent of the total duringthe first eleven months of this year an<l public construction rvas 26 p€r cent of the total'

All types of public construction declined in November' School and hospital building u'ere dorvn only slightly and high,*'a.y construction shorved a smaller drop than is usual at this seasrjn. Expenditures for military and naval construction amounting to $17 million in November were higher by $3 million than in November last year.

Total outlal's for nerv construction in 1950 passed the $25 billion mark bv the end of November, exceeding the total for the first eleven months of 1949 by 22 per cent' During the first eleven months of 1950 private expenditures for new construction arnountirrg to nearly $19 billion u'ere 28 per cent higher than last year, u'hile public expenditures of almost $fu billion were up 9 per cent.

Lumber Merchcnts oI Northern Calilonric Witl Hold Annucrl Convention in Scrn Francisco, April 18, 19 and 20

I-umber Nlerchants Association of Northern California will hold its annual convention at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. April 18. 19, and n, l9sl.

Exhibits rvill be in the Gold Ball Room' and the various sessions of the convention lvill be held in the Concert Room'

Particulars as to exhibit space can be obtained from Jack F. Pomeroy, executive vice president of the Associatton,2l4 Front Street. San Francisco 11. The telephone number is YUkon 6-3705.