ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator is the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead. The Construction Confidence Index is a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. View the methodology for both indicators. 

 

News Releases

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News Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30—The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1.9% in the third quarter of 2019 despite contracting levels of nonresidential investment, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Nonresidential fixed investment declined at a 3% annual rate in the third quarter after declining at a 1% rate in the second quarter.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30—In September, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 48 states and rose in two states 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. For the fifth consecutive month, the construction unemployment rates for all 50 states were below 10%. For the nation and 29 states, this was their lowest September construction unemployment rate on record.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24—U.S. construction industry leaders remained confident in August 2019, according to the Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. While contractors were less upbeat regarding sales growth over the coming six months, confidence associated with profit margins and staffing increased from July to August.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator climbed to nine months in August 2019, up 0.5 months or 5.4% from July 2019 when CBI stood at 8.5 months.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8—Construction input prices fell 0.6% in September and are down 1.7% 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 fell 0.7% for the month and are down 1.4% compared to the same time last year.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 – The construction industry added 7,000 net new jobs in September, 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 156,000 jobs, an increase of 2.1%. 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.4% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published today. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $773.8 billion, 0.3% higher than in August 2018.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2—In August, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 31 states, fell in 13 states and remained unchanged in six 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. For the fourth month in a row, the construction unemployment rates for all 50 states were below 10%.

ABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule in 2023

For media inquiries, please contact Erika Walter, ABC director of media relations, at [email protected].

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