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 Economics

Construction Input Prices Begin to Trend Higher

Friday, October 14, 2016 11:06 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 14—Both nonresidential and overall construction input prices increased in September, with natural gas and crude petroleum prices bouncing back, according to analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The BLS data show that nonresidential input prices expanded 0.3 percent on a monthly basis in September, and overall construction prices also rose 0.3 percent on a monthly basis after declining 0.2 percent in August.   Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Rebounds with Strong September Report

Friday, October 7, 2016 12:04 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 7—The construction industry rebounded in a meaningful way in September by gaining 23,000 net new jobs on a monthly basis after losing 5,000 net jobs in August, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Despite the broader industry gains, the nonresidential sector added just 2,700 net new jobs for the month, while the residential sector added 15,700 new positions. The heavy and civil engineering subsector added 4,300 net new jobs after losing 23,200 positions over the previous five-month period. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Slips in August

Monday, October 3, 2016 12:56 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 3—Nonresidential construction spending fell for a second consecutive month in August, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential spending totaled $686.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 1.1 percent lower than July’s total of $694.1 billion (revised down from $701 billion) and 1.3 percent below August 2015’s figure. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 48 States in August

Thursday, September 29, 2016 9:00 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 29— August not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates improved in 48 states and the nation on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 5.1 percent was 1 percent lower than a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), producing the lowest August construction unemployment rate on record. BLS data also showed that the industry employed 183,000 more people than in August 2015. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Dip in August

Thursday, September 15, 2016 10:31 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 15—Both nonresidential construction input prices and overall input prices fell in August as energy prices retrenched, according to an analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released today by Associated  Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential construction input prices were down 0.2 percent on a month-over-month basis and 1.7 percent on a year-over-year basis. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Falters in August

Friday, September 2, 2016 10:22 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 2—The U.S. construction industry lost 6,000 net jobs in August according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). BLS also downwardly revised July’s estimate from 14,000 net new jobs to 11,000 net new jobs meaning that the construction industry has lost 25,000 net jobs since April after adding 68,000 through the first three months of 2016. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Inches Lower in July; June Data Upwardly Revised to Eight-year Record

Thursday, September 1, 2016 2:09 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 1—Nonresidential construction spending inched 0.3 percent lower in July largely due to a significant upward revision to June’s spending figure, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential spending totaled $701.4 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis in July, the second highest month since November of 2008, right behind June, which was revised upward from $682 billion to $703.5 billion. Public nonresidential spending continued to falter, declining 3.2 percent for the month and 6.5 percent for the year. Read the rest of entry »

July Construction Unemployment Rate Lowest Since 2000

Friday, August 26, 2016 11:47 AM
Not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates improved in 43 states and the nation on a year-over-year basis in July according to analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 4.5 percent was 1 percent lower than a year ago according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Further, the industry boasted its lowest July rate since 2000 when July’s rate was 4.4 percent rate. BLS data also showed that the industry employed 209,000 more people than in July 2015. Read the rest of entry »

The Importance of Construction to State Economies: 2015 GDP Update

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 9:00 AM
Construction has always played a vital role in the nation’s economy despite some ups and downs. From 1999 through 2015, real (inflation-adjusted) construction investment (both residential and nonresidential) varied from 5.1 percent of real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 and 2011 to 9.4 percent of GDP in 1999. In 2014 and 2015, construction investment was 6 percent of GDP. Read the rest of entry »

Construction’s Contribution to Economy Increases in 30 States in 2015

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 9:00 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 17– The value added by the private construction industry as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 30 states and decreased in only six in 2015, according to a report released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nationally, construction’s direct contribution to GDP increased by 0.1 percent to 3.9 percent from 2014 to 2015. Read the rest of entry »