ABC issues news releases on the latest workforce, policy and industry issues, as well as construction-related economic data and trends. Commercial and industrial construction economic analyses include federal data on construction spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index. 

In addition, ABC produces the Construction Backlog Indicator, the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead, and the Construction Confidence Index, a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. Methodology for both indicators can be found hereABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule for 2023 

For media inquiries, please contact Erika Walter, ABC’s director of media relations at [email protected] or (202)905-2104 

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From category archives: News Releases

Construction Economic Update

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Plummets in August; Contractor Confidence Down

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell sharply to 7.7 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 19 to Sept. 1. The reading is down 0.8 months from July 2021 and down 0.3 months from August 2020.

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Inch Lower in August, But Are Still Elevated Year Over Year, Says ABC

Friday, September 10, 2021 10:22 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10—Construction input prices declined 0.6% in August compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.4% for the month.

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Nonresidential Construction Loses 20,300 Jobs in August, Says ABC

Friday, September 3, 2021 10:04 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3—The construction industry lost 3,000 jobs on net in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite the monthly setback, the industry has recovered 881,000 (79.2%) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Weak in July, Says ABC

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 10:55 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1—National nonresidential construction spending expanded 0.1% in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $786.7 billion for the month.

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Construction Input Prices Up 23.1% Year Over Year, Says ABC

Thursday, August 12, 2021 9:23 AM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12—Construction input prices rose 0.6% in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.8% for the month.

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Flat in July; Contractor Confidence Falls

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 8.5 months in July, according to an ABC member survey conducted July 20-Aug. 2, up 0.7 months from July 2020.

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Nonresidential Construction Adds Only 2,900 Jobs in July, Says ABC

Friday, August 6, 2021 9:36 AM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6—The nation’s construction industry added 11,000 jobs on net in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered 886,000 (79.6%) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Down Nearly 1% in June, Says ABC

Monday, August 2, 2021 11:49 AM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.9% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $779.9 billion for the month, down 6.6% from one year ago.

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U.S. Economy Expands in Second Quarter, Investment in Structures Contracts, Says ABC

Thursday, July 29, 2021 10:18 AM

WASHINGTON, July 29–The U.S. economy expanded at a 6.5% annualized rate in the second quarter of 2021, pushing overall gross domestic product above pre-pandemic levels. Investment in nonresidential structures, however, declined 7% for the quarter and has now contracted in six of the past seven quarters, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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State Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 45 States From a Year Ago, Says ABC

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, July 28—The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was down 2.6% in June 2021 from a year ago and 45 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, according to state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Although not back to pre-pandemic levels, both overall employment and construction employment have demonstrated significant improvement during the past year.

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