WASHINGTON, Jan. 28—The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized 4.0% rate in the fourth quarter of 2020 as the nation’s recovery from last spring’s economic devastation continued. Nonresidential investment in structures increased at a 3.0% annualized rate in the fourth quarter.

Construction input prices increased 1.8% in December 2020 compared to the previous month, 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 rose 2.1% for the month.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rebounded modestly to 7.3 months in December, an increase of 0.1 months from November’s reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Dec. 18 to Jan. 5. Backlog is 1.5 months lower than in December 2019.

The construction industry added 51,000 net new jobs in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last eight months, the industry has added 857,000 jobs, recovering 79.1% of the jobs lost during the earlier stages of the pandemic.

Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman released the follow statement on President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to run the U.S. Department of Labor

Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s Independent Contractor Final Rule.

National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.6% in November 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $792.5 billion for the month.