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Downshift in growth expected for the nation and California, says latest UCLA Anderson Forecast Travis Wise/flickr The forecast for California notes that the housing market could be dampened by the new U.S. tax bill that is expected to become law, which would reduce economic growth in the state. UCLA Anderson Forecast’s final quarterly report for 2017 presents a somewhat mixed outlook, as the United States awaits the outcomes of a number of initiatives and proposals that could affect the economy. For the nation, the near-term outlook is optimistic, anticipating a 3 percent growth in the economy, thanks to strong equipment...

Program Mixes Creativity, Construction SACRA stands for the Society for the Advancement of Construction-Related Arts. It's a partnership between the Albright-Knox's Innovation Lab and Assembly House 150 — an experimental art and architecture space in Buffalo. The 15-week program helps students develop construction skills, build confidence, and discover their own creativity through various projects. Participants are referred to the program through the Erie County Department of Social Services. They are learning skills to help them enter and succeed in the workforce, while also addressing the need for skilled carpenters and woodworkers. Two students in the program already have jobs lined...

Beautiful beach sites zoned for construction in Mediterranean’s Antalya Three sandy Mediterranean beaches, including the ancient Patara Beach in Antalya’s south and castle land will be zoned for construction as their protected statuses have changed, the Official Gazette reported on Jan. 9. With the redesignation of the legal protection coverage of the sites, even mining activities will be legal on Fırnaz and Patara bays in Kaş and the Taşdibi Peninsula in Demre, known as Santa Claus’ homeland. The Alanya Castle area is also included in the lands that have now been zoned for villas, touristic facilities and even stone quarries....

Road construction firm Patel Infra files for IPO Vadodara-headquartered road construction company Patel Infrastructure Ltd has filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to float an initial public offering (IPO). According to the DRHP, the company has proposed to sell fresh shares worth Rs 400 crore in the IPO. While the valuation is still to be finalised, Patel Infrastucture will dilute roughly 20-22% stake, two people in the know told VCCircle. This will value the firm at Rs 1,800-2,000 crore ($315 million), VCCircle estimates show. If listed, Patel Infrastructure...

UK construction output just fell by the most since 2012 Construction activity fell in the three months to November (Source: Getty) The UK's construction industry showed more weakness in November as output shrank for the sixth quarter in a row in the three months to November, according to official data. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed output contracted by two per cent in the three months to November, the largest fall since August 2012. However, on a month-on-month basis, output edged up 0.4 per cent between October and November. While work in non-housing, commercial construction and...