WASHINGTON, Nov. 21—Leaders of the U.S. construction industry remained confident through September 2019 regarding near-term prospects for sales, staffing levels and profit margins, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors' Construction Confidence Index released today. However, the level of optimism continues to dim. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.9 months in September 2019, down 0.1 months or 0.8% from August 2019 when CBI stood at nine months.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – Construction input prices remained unchanged on a monthly basis in October but are down 2.2% 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 fell 0.1% for the month and are down 2.0% compared to the same time last year.

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 13―Associated Builders and Contractors’ Board of Directors elected Tim Keating, owner and president, R. C. Stevens Construction Co., to serve as the 2020 ABC national chair during the association’s annual Leadership Institute in San Antonio. Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., was elected chair-elect and Stephanie Schmidt, president, Poole Anderson Construction, was elected secretary. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8—Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development Greg Sizemore spoke at a Nov. 7 Occupational Health and Safety Administration public meeting on leading indicators for safety and health programs. In his remarks, Sizemore emphasized the importance of leading indicators as a proactive measure to prevent workplace hazards and reduce recordable incidents, resulting in improved safety and health performance.

WASHINGTON, Nov.1—National nonresidential construction spending rose 0.5% in September but is down 0.9% on a year-ago basis, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $775.6 billion, 2.4% lower than the cyclical peak in April 2019.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1—The construction industry added 10,000 net new jobs in October, 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 148,000 jobs or 2%.