Another Look at the Pandemic: How the Fed Stepped in to Save the Economy

It is always interesting to see how quickly our attention and focus can turn from one crisis to the next, with the former being forgotten and seen only in the rearview mirror. Of course, the media gives us no choice, as it is their focus on the story of the moment that gets the ink.  With the war in Ukraine…

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CEMEX Puerto Rico Renews Port Lease

CEMEX Puerto Rico renewed its leasing contract at Port of San Juan’s Pier 16 for another 20 years, according to Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel Pizá Batiz.  “The renewal of the contract to extend operations responds to the government’s vision to promote and implement recovery efforts efficiently and effectively, capitalizing on opportunities to rebuild a better and more…

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Country Report: Cement Production in Uruguay Recovers

By Mauro Nogarin After registering six consecutive quarters of year-on-year declines, the Uruguayan Ministry of Economy ratified the official growth projection for the economy of the country: 3.5% in 2021, after registering a year-on-year decline in the first quarter of 2.8%. Among the indicators that confirm a better performance of the economy are tax collection, industrial production and the evolution…

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New PCA Update Focuses on American Rescue Plan

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) Market Intelligence Group released its March economic update, focusing on the impacts of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The update discusses how the latest round of fiscal stimulus will provide positive support for key macroeconomic indicators and prevent the economy from slipping into further decay. 

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PCA’s Sullivan Projects 2020-21 Cement Consumption

In his first widely available briefing since early March, Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Ed Sullivan offered two U.S. cement consumption outlooks based on U- or W-shaped economic recovery curves. A U-shaped recovery will see 2020 and 2021 figures of -3.4% or +1.7%, while a W-shaped model will see declines of -4.8% and -2.7%. 

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