ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Inches Lower in June

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.8 months in June 2019, down 0.1 months or 1.3% from May 2019, when CBI stood at 8.9 months. Read the rest of entry »

Mid-year Economic Outlook for Nonresidential Construction: Expansion Continues, But Vulnerabilities Pile Up

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12—More than 10 years after the end of the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. economy is again making history by entering its longest-ever expansion. Nevertheless, emerging weakness in business investment has been hinting at softening outlays, giving commercial and industrial construction contractors cause for concern, according to a mid-year economic outlook by Anirban Basu, chief economist of Associated Builders and Contractors. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Rebound in July, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9—Construction input prices expanded 0.8% in July but are down 0.6% 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 also increased 0.8% for the month but have declined 0.3% on a year-ago basis.

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Nonresidential Construction Employment Roughly Flat in July, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2—The construction industry added 4,000 net new jobs in July, 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 202,000 net jobs, an increase of 2.8%.  Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Spending Slows in June, Remains Elevated, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1—National nonresidential construction spending declined 1.8% in June, totaling $773.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis—a 2.3% increase compared to the same time a year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published today. Public nonresidential spending fell 3.7% in June, but is up 6.4% year over year, while private nonresidential spending fell 0.3% on a monthly basis and is up 0.4% from June 2018. Read the rest of entry »

June Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 40 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 31—In June, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 40 states and increased in 10 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 second month in a row, all 50 states posted construction unemployment rates of less than 10%.

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June Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 40 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 31—In June, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 40 states and increased in 10 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 second month in a row, all 50 states posted construction unemployment rates of less than 10%.  Read the rest of entry »

U.S. GDP Expands by 2.1% in the Second Quarter, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 26—The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.1% annualized rate during the second quarter of 2019 with consumer spending leading the way, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. This rate of growth exceeded the consensus expectation that second quarter growth would be closer to 1.8%. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Contractors Remain Confident as Summer Begins, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 18—U.S. construction industry leaders remained upbeat regarding nonresidential construction’s near-term prospects in May 2019, according to the Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Read the rest of entry »

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Increases Modestly in May

WASHINGTON, July 16—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator expanded to 8.9 months in May 2019, up 0.2 months or 2.2% since April 2019, when CBI stood at 8.7 months. Read the rest of entry »