ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator is the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead. The Construction Confidence Index is a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. View the methodology for both indicators. 

 

News Releases

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News Releases

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%.

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%. 

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%.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON, July 12—Construction input prices decreased 1.3% on both a monthly and yearly basis in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. This is the first time in nearly three years that input prices have fallen on a year-over-year basis.

WASHINGTON, July 5 – The construction industry added 21,000 net new jobs in June, 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, employment in the industry has expanded by 224,000 jobs, representing an increase of 3.1%. Nonresidential construction employment gained 14,900 net jobs in June and is up 146,700 jobs during the last 12 months. 

 WASHINGTON, July 3—In May, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 46 states 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. Three states (Michigan, South Dakota and Vermont) had no change, while only Hawaii increased, rising from 5% in May 2018 to 5.2% in the most recent report. (Note that the unemployment rate for Hawaii is for construction, mining and logging combined.)

WASHINGTON, July 1—According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published today, national nonresidential construction spending declined 0.9% in May, totaling $788.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis and a 4.4% increase compared to the same time last year. While total public and private nonresidential spending declined 0.9% since April, public spending was up 11.2% and private spending was down 0.1% year over year.

ABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule in 2023

For media inquiries, please contact Erika Walter, ABC director of media relations, at [email protected].

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