Construction Job Growth Rebounds in 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 3—National construction employment started 2017 on a high note, adding 36,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The 0.5 percent increase represents the best month for construction employment growth since March of 2016. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Falters Slightly to End 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 1—Nonresidential construction spending slipped 0.7 percent in the final month of 2016, but increased 4.6 percent over the previous year, according to analysis of  U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential spending decreased from $713.1 billion in November to $708.2 billion in December on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 26 States Year-Over-Year

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan 31.—December not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates were down in 26 states and the nation on a year-over-year basis, according to analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The rates for two states, Iowa and Wisconsin, were unchanged from December 2015. The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 7.4 percent was down 0.1 percent from a year ago, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expands 2.4 Percent, but U.S. Economic Growth Slows in Fourth Quarter

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 27—The improved performance of the U.S. economy during last year’s third quarter gave way to a weaker period of growth in the fourth, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during 2016’s final quarter, down from a 3.5 percent expansion in the third quarter. While the fourth quarter represents the 11th consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, overall GDP growth for 2016 totaled 1.6 percent, the slowest rate of
expansion since 2011. Read the rest of entry »

Overall Construction Input Prices Firm in December as Energy Prices Surge

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 13—Construction input prices rebounded in December after experiencing a steep decline in November, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Input prices rose 0.4 percent for the month and are up 2.1 percent year-over-year, the largest 12-month increase in 30 months. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Lost Jobs in December

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 6—National construction employment declined by 3,000 net jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, according to analysis of  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Thrives in Strong November Spending Report

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 3—Nonresidential construction surged in November, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential spending expanded to $712.4 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate in November, representing the highest level of spending in eight years. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Plummet in November

Construction input prices experienced their most rapid monthly decline since February 2016 in November, falling 0.5 percent according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite the month-over-month fall, input prices are up by 0.5 percent on a yearly basis for the second consecutive month. 
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Construction Input Prices Remain Flat in October

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 16—Construction input prices remained unchanged in October and are just 0.5 percent above where they were a year ago, according to analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Despite the modest increase in the aggregate input price level, today’s report represents the largest year-over-year price increase since November 2014. Generally, construction input prices, particularly natural gas and crude petroleum, have headed lower since the summer of 2014. However, that pattern of falling prices no longer holds. Crude petroleum prices were up 10.5 percent on a year-over-year basis in October while natural gas prices were up 12.2 percent. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expands Again During Solid Third Quarter, ABC Says

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 28—Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 2.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during the third quarter of 2016, according to an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). This follows a 1.4 percent increase during the second quarter and represents the tenth consecutive quarter of economic expansion. Read the rest of entry »