Building construction
The lit Badaling section of the Great Wall of China is seen near the 2022 Winter Olympics logo on the outskirts of Beijing on Feb. 8, 2022. China has thousands of years of doing things in a really big way, reinforcing its perceived place in the world and the political power of its leaders — from emperors to Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping. None of this bigness is new. It goes back to a dozen dynasties that ruled China for thousands of years, a tradition of projecting power that was adopted by the Chinese Communist Party when it came to power in 1949. It could be termed simply: big, bigger and biggest — and then some. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Home of the huge: China has long history of going really big

By Stephen Wade Feb. 10, 2022 12:27 AM EST

FILE - A concrete pump frames the Capitol Dome during renovations and repairs to Lower Senate Park on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Plans to pump money into rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure could give companies that make machinery and materials a solid foundation for growth. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Infrastructure spending promises boost for construction cos.

By Damian J. Troise Jun. 25, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

A person walks through a casino area ahead of the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Las Vegas. Even the chips have chips at the newest casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. When Resorts World Las Vegas opens to guests and gamblers late Thursday, card players will bet with house chips implanted with sensors at tables that take cashless transactions and track every bet, split, double-down and side wager. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Casino tech: Even chips have chips at newest Vegas resort

By Ken Ritter Jun. 24, 2021 03:15 PM EDT

A carpenter aligns a beam for a wall frame at a new house site in Madison County, Miss., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. U.S. home construction fell by a bigger-than-expected amount in April but the drop came after housing had risen to the highest level in 15 years. The Commerce Department said Tuesday, May 18, that construction dropped 9.5% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.57 million units. % in April to an annual rate of 1.76 million units, a good sign that the April dip in construction will be temporary. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
US home construction up a moderate 3.6% in May

By Martin Crutsinger Jun. 16, 2021 08:39 AM EDT

In this May 26, 2021 photo, a sign for workers hangs in the window of a shop along Main Street in Deadwood, S.D. U.S. employers added 559,000 jobs in May, an improvement from April’s sluggish gain but still evidence that many companies are struggling to find enough workers as the economy rapidly recovers from the pandemic recession. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
US economy: Plenty of growth, not enough workers or supplies

By Paul Wiseman Jun. 05, 2021 10:03 AM EDT

A man walks into 5th Avenue Deli and Grill, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Hiring in the United States picked up in May yet was slowed again by the struggles of many companies to find enough workers to keep up with the economy's swift recovery from the pandemic recession. U.S. employers added 559,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said Friday, an improvement from April's sluggish increase of 278,000. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
US businesses struggle to fill jobs even as hiring picks up

By Christopher Rugaber Jun. 04, 2021 12:01 AM EDT

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks with reporters, joined by newly-elected House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Capitol Hill Friday, May 14, 2021, in Washington. Republicans voted Friday morning for Stefanik to be the new chair for the House Republican Conference, replacing Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who was ousted from the GOP leadership for criticizing former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP FACT CHECK: House GOP falsely blames Biden for gas prices

By Christopher Rugaber And Hope Yen May. 25, 2021 06:11 PM EDT

A home is shown for sale, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. U.S. home prices jumped by the most in more than seven years in March, as an increasing number of would-be buyers compete for a dwindling supply of houses. The March S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index, released Tuesday, May 25, rose 13.3% from a year earlier, the biggest gain since December 2013. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
In a sizzling US market, demand and prices for homes soar

By Christopher Rugaber May. 25, 2021 09:23 AM EDT

A carpenter aligns a beam for a wall frame at a new house site in Madison County, Miss., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. U.S. home construction fell by a bigger-than-expected amount in April but the drop came after housing had risen to the highest level in 15 years. The Commerce Department said Tuesday, May 18, that construction dropped 9.5% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.57 million units. % in April to an annual rate of 1.76 million units, a good sign that the April dip in construction will be temporary. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
US home construction falls a surprise 9.5% in April

By Martin Crutsinger May. 18, 2021 10:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 29, 2020 file photo, a worker restocks chicken in the meat product section at a grocery store in Dallas. Rising prices for a variety of commodities are contributing to a jump in prices at the consumer level in 2021, with Americans paying more for meat, gasoline, items they keep in their homes and even the homes themselves. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Rising commodities costs hit Americans at home and on road

The Associated Press May. 12, 2021 01:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 30, 2021 file photo, workers replace old water lines under Main Street as part of work to update water and sewer systems as well as prepare the road for the expansion of a street car line in Kansas City, Mo. The federal American Rescue Plan, comes on top of $150 billion the federal government sent directly to states and local governments in 2020. This year's law cites infrastructure for water, sewer and broadband internet as allowable uses. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Some states plan big spending with Biden's aid, others wait

By David A. Lieb May. 09, 2021 10:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 file photo, A man walks out of a Marc's Store in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. With viral cases declining, consumers spending again and more businesses easing restrictions, America's employers likely delivered another month of robust hiring in April, reinforcing the economy's steady rebound from the pandemic recession. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
US job growth slows sharply in sign of hiring struggles

By Christopher Rugaber May. 07, 2021 12:01 AM EDT

"Sold" signs sit on a lot as new home construction continue in a new neighborhood in Northbrook, Ill., Sunday, March 21, 2021. The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes last month fell by the most since last year’s virus outbreak sent the economy into freefall. The National Association of Realtors’ index of pending home sales tumbled 10.6% to 110.3 in February, its lowest level since May of last year. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
More Americans sign contracts to buy homes in March

By Matt Ott Apr. 29, 2021 10:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 20, 2020, file photo, workers watch as a wrecking ball knocks debris loose from the Hard Rock Hotel building collapse site in New Orleans. New Orleans officials marked the return of two-way traffic to a major New Orleans thoroughfare Wednesday, April 28, 2021, more than 18 months after the partial collapse of a hotel under construction at the edge of the French Quarter killed three people and halted traffic and commerce on a section of historic Canal Street. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
18 months after collapse, a New Orleans street reopens

By Kevin Mcgill Apr. 28, 2021 01:59 PM EDT

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston speaks during a session at the Statehouse, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Highlights of Indiana's new state budget

Apr. 22, 2021 04:23 PM EDT

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, speaks during a news conference at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Thursday, April 15, 2021, with Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, center, and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville. A new state revenue report given Thursday to legislators projects tax collections will bounce back stronger than expected from the pandemic recession. (AP Photo/Tom Davies)
Indiana budget deal boosts school funding, construction

By Tom Davies Apr. 20, 2021 04:09 PM EDT

Nathan Long, a video game writer, stands inside his rental apartment in Glendale, Calif., Thursday, April 8, 2021. He and his wife, Lili, have been unsuccessful so far in their search for a home in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Ready to buy a home? The trick is finding or affording one

By Alex Veiga Apr. 09, 2021 03:00 AM EDT

A closed branch of the sushi restaurant chain Itsu at Holborn in the City of London, Thursday, April 1, 2021. When the coronavirus struck, nearly 540,000 workers vanished almost overnight from the business hub, known as the City of London, or simply "the City." A year on, most haven't returned.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Beyond the Pandemic: London's financial hub seeks a rebirth

By Sylvia Hui Apr. 07, 2021 02:18 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Wisconsin

By The Associated Press Mar. 30, 2021 03:00 AM EDT
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. March 28, 2021. Editorial: Affordable housing is statewide need There are some reactions...

Editorial Roundup: Ohio

By The Associated Press Mar. 29, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
Akron Beacon Journal. March 28, 2021. Editorial: Akron must be ambitious to reverse disturbing trends in housing market ...