U.S. Builder Confidence Rises Amid Falling Mortgage Rates

20 Sep 2024 CW Team

U.S. home builder confidence increased in September, marking a break from four consecutive months of decline, as mortgage rates fell. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose to 41, up from 39 in August, surpassing economists' expectations of 40. This shift indicates the first positive outlook for future home sales since May. Despite the rise, builder confidence remains low, largely due to ongoing construction costs and inflation. The Federal Reserve's anticipated rate cuts are expected to ease mortgage interest rates and reduce costs for land development and construction loans. Notably, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to 6.20%, down from nearly 8% last October. Builder sentiment about sales expectations for the next six months also improved, climbing four points to 53. The easing mortgage rates have allowed builders to reduce price cuts, with the share of those lowering prices falling for the first time since April, and the average price concession dropping below 6% for the first time since July 2022.

Infrastructure Urban

07 Nov 2025

Welspun Enterprises Wins 910 MLD Panjrapur WTP Contract

Welspun Enterprises (WEL), the infrastructure and energy arm of Welspun World, has secured a major contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to design, build and operate a 910 million litres per day (MLD) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Panjrapur, Maharashtra.Valued at approximately Rs 31.45 billion, the project encompasses end-to-end civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works, including the construction of a treated water sump and pumping station. Of the total value, nearly Rs 11.56 billion is allocated to Operations & Maintenance (O&M), with an additional..

Mitsubishi Power Wins Boiler Upgrade Contract for O Mon 1 Plant

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Liebherr’s 10,000th XPower Wheel Loader Joins BERGER’s Fleet

BERGER Rohstoffe GmbH has welcomed the 10,000th Liebherr XPower wheel loader to its operations at the Schlag granite quarry in Passau. The milestone machine, officially handed over at Liebherr’s Bischofshofen plant in May 2025, underscores the long-standing partnership between BERGER, Liebherr, and the Beutlhauser Group. Equipped with Liebherr’s signature power-split travel drive, the new L 580 XPower is already delivering strong results under demanding quarry conditions.At the Schlag quarry, BERGER Rohstoffe processes approximately 200,000 tonnes of Bayerwald granite annually into high-qu..