President Obama Shuts Out Small Businesses From Fiscal Cliff Talks

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released the following statement regarding the White House fiscal cliff summit with corporate leaders.
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Construction Materials Prices Decrease 0.4 Percent in October

The nation’s construction materials prices fell for the first time in three months, slipping 0.4 percent in October, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s producer price index (PPI). However, materials prices remain 2 percent higher than one year ago. Nonresidential construction materials prices decreased 0.5 percent for the month, but were 1.8 percent higher on a year-over-year basis.
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Construction Backlog Up 3.5 Percent In Third Quarter Of 2012

ABC reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) expanded for the second consecutive quarter, up to 8 months in the third quarter of this year, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous quarter. CBI is measured in months and reflects the amount of construction work under contract, but not yet completed.
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ABC Criticizes President For NLRB Recess Appointments

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today criticized President Obama for undermining the U.S. Senate’s advice and consent role by recess-appointing Democrats Sharon Block, deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs at the Department of Labor; Richard Griffin, general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); and Republican Terence Flynn, chief counsel to NLRB member Brian Hayes. 
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Nonresidential Construction Spending Down 0.4 Percent in September

Despite a flurry of activity in residential construction spending, nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4 percent in September, with outlays falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $559.4 billion, according to the Nov. 1 construction spending report by the U.S. Commerce Department. Year-over-year, total nonresidential construction spending is up 2.6 percent, slightly higher than inflation.
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