Health Care Law Continues to Create Uncertainty and Confusion in the Construction Industry

On the eve of the third anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today said the health care law continues to create uncertainty and confusion in the construction industry, making it difficult for the nation’s contractors to plan for the future.
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Construction Materials Prices Increase 1.3 Percent in February

The nation’s construction material prices rose 1.3 percent in February—marking the sharpest increase in 22 months, according to the March 14 Producer Price Index (PPI) report by the U.S. Department of Labor. Overall, construction materials prices remain 2 percent higher than one year ago. Nonresidential construction materials prices rose 1.4 percent last month, and are up 1 percent on a year-over-year basis. 
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Construction Industry Unemployment Rate Dips to 15.7 Percent in February

The construction industry added 48,000 jobs in February—the largest monthly increase since March 2007. Year over year, the industry has added 140,000 jobs, or 2.5 percent, according to the March 8 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. The construction industry unemployment rate declined to 15.7 percent in February, down from 16.1 percent the previous month and down from 17.1 percent from one year ago.
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Nonresidential Construction Spending Falls 3.3 Percent in January

As further evidence that the nation’s construction industry continues to struggle, nonresidential construction spending fell 3.3 percent in January, with outlays decreasing to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $572.1 billion, according to the March 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. Year over year, total nonresidential construction spending is up only 0.8 percent (unadjusted for inflation).
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