Significantly fewer construction firms are planning to make layoffs in 2012 than at any point in the past few years according to survey results released Jan. 23 by the Associated General Contractors of America and Computer Guidance Corporation.

NEW YORK (AP) The agency building the new World Trade Center said a design flaw could add millions of dollars to the cost of the complex’s signature tower. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Jan.

The Erb Equipment Companies recently announced that its board of directors have made the following appointment changes: Carrie L. Roider has assumed the position of chief executive officer, Gregg R.

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association teamed up with the Ohio State University Nursery Short Course Program to hold the annual CENTS Marketplace trade show and conference Jan. 23 to 25 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Whayne Supply Company unveiled the new Cat CT660 vocational truck in a delivery and presentation of keys to Jim Smith Contracting. With the presentation, Jim Smith Contracting became the first business in Kentucky to take delivery of the Cat CT660.

The Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA) held its annual conference and trade show Jan. 19 to 21 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich. As a state wide association focused on Michigan’s road and bridge, sewer and water, utility, railroad, excavation and specialty construction, MITA represents nearly 600 Michigan companies throughout the state.

Murphy Tractor & Equipment Company has added Bill Stewart as a territory sales manager at the Cranberry Township, Pa., branch location. Stewart will be responsible for new and used heavy equipment, attachments and trailer sales in southwest Pennsylvania.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) released the January 2012 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) Jan. 23. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $628 billion equipment finance sector.

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. manufacturers ended 2011 with their best month of growth since the late spring. And the struggling construction industry spent more on projects for the third time in four months.

Kobelco Construction Machinery America has introduced a new full-size, high-performance excavator, the SK485. The largest of the Kobelco Mark 9 excavator series — which includes the SK210, SK260, SK295 and SK350 excavators — the Tier IV SK485 Mark 9 delivers up to 15-percent improvement in fuel efficiency, while maintaining productivity, according to the manufacturer.