Regardless of the industry, there comes a point where a changing of the guard occurs from one generation to the next.

The value of new construction starts fell 2%, seasonally adjusted, in January, McGraw-Hill Construction reported Feb. 21, based on data it collected.

The PPI for inputs to construction industries rose 0.4% for the month and 4.5% over 12 months. Although higher than the finished goods PPI, the 12-month increase was the mildest for construction materials since the year ending in September 2010.

The drop in industry unemployment, unaccompanied by a rise in construction employment, suggests workers are finding jobs in other industries, retiring, returning to school or training, or leaving the workforce. That may make hiring more difficult when construction demand picks up.

The hires rate in construction jumped to 7.3 percent in September from 5.6 percent in August and 5.9 percent in September 2010.

The U.S. Senate Nov. 10 unanimously approved legislation to repeal a federal mandate that government agencies withhold part of their payments to contractors and added an amendment to provide tax credits to companies that hire veterans.

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The producer price index for inputs to construction industries - a weighted average of the price of all goods used in every type of construction, plus items consumed by contractors, such as diesel fuel - was flat for September but up 8.1 percent over the September 2010 level.

Ferguson posted $8.8 billion revenue in the 2011 fiscal year, a 9% gain in sales over 2010.