WASHINGTON, Jan. 30—The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2019, despite investment in structures declining at an annualized rate of 10.1%, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Investment in structures contracted for three consecutive quarters and declined 4.4% during 2019.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23—Confidence among U.S. construction industry leaders increased in November 2019 with respect to sales, profit margins and staffing, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released today. Sales and profit margin expectations reached their highest levels since May 2019, while staffing expectations reached their highest level since April 2019.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell slightly to 8.8 months in November, a 1.5% decline from October’s reading.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15—Construction input prices rose 0.2% in December 2019 and are up 1.0% year over year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices rose 0.3% for the month and are also up 1.0% since December 2018.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10—The construction industry added 20,000 net new jobs in December 2019, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has expanded by 151,000 jobs, an increase of 2.0%. 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6—In November, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates increased nationally and in 38 states, fell in 11 states and were unchanged in one state (Washington) on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3% in November but is up 5.1% year over year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $781.1 billion, 1.8% lower than the cyclical peak in April 2019.