PCA economist: Debt crisis could usher 13 percent cement consumption drop over 2011-12

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; Staff reports Inaction by Congress and the White House on the federal debt ceiling could derail the fragile U.S. economic recovery, spurring a second recession and adversely impacting cement shipments, according to a recent PCA report. A federal default stemming from the absence of a higher debt ceiling would affect business, consumer and bank…

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Top two TXI shareholders’ stake surpasses 40 percent

Sources: Securities & Exchange Commission; Staff reports A series of late-June trades has positioned Memphis-based Southeast Asset Management Inc. and its Longleaf Partners Small-Cap Fund with nearly 5.8 million of Texas Industries’ approximately 27.9 million outstanding shares of common stock. The trades were completed at just under $40/share—versus a July 5 closing price of $41.90—and consolidate a Southeast Asset/Longleaf TXI…

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Campaign advances life-cycle budgeting in infrastructure policy

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; Staff reports A two-week print and online PCA ad campaign, themed “What Are the Real Costs” and targeted to political and policy opinion leaders in Washington, D.C., aims to elevate cradle-to-grave project cost factors in transportation and infrastructure funding. The ads appeared through July 1 in Rollcall and CQ Daily print editions and in…

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Lafarge emphasizes transportation, mobile equipment during Health & Safety Month

Source: Lafarge North America, Reston, Va. Each June, Lafarge facilities across North America and at its sister company sites around the world celebrate Health & Safety Month, renewing the company’s commitment to the health and safety of their employees, contractors, families and local communities with a month’s worth of awareness-raising activities and events. From healthy meals and fitness challenges to…

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Cement Totals— April 2011

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were about 5.7 million mt in April 2011, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This was 14.0 percent lower compared with shipments for April 2010. Total shipments for the year through April were approximately 18.3 million mt, about 2 percent…

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