December represented the end of a three-month winning streak for nonresidential spending growth. According to a Feb. 3 release by the U.S. Census Bureau, nonresidential construction spending fell 1.3 percent on a monthly basis and 1.1 percent on a yearly basis in December. Spending for the month totaled $573.07 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.

The construction industry gained 48,000 jobs in January, according to the Feb. 7 employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Nonresidential construction gained 21,000 jobs, representing a significant rebound from the 14,100 jobs lost by the segment in December. Nonresidential construction accounted for 47.7 percent of January’s total construction industry job gain and 28.1 percent of the construction industry job gain in the past year.

Construction materials prices expanded 0.6 percent in January and are up 1.5 percent year over year, according to the Feb. 19 producer price index released by the Department of Labor.  More specifically, nonresidential construction materials prices are up 0.5 percent for the month and are 1 percent higher than the same time one year ago.

Nonresidential construction spending declined for the second consecutive month, falling 0.3 percent in January, but is up 6.5 percent over the past year, according to a March 3 release by the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending for the month totaled $578.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.

The U.S. nonresidential construction industry gained just 400 jobs in February, according to the March 7 employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The construction industry as a whole added only 15,000 jobs for the month, with the vast majority of new jobs coming from residential construction. The construction unemployment rate expanded to 12.8 percent in February from 12.3 percent in January (non-seasonally adjusted). 

Construction materials prices expanded 0.7 percent in February and are up 0.6 percent over the past year, according to the March 14 producer price index release by the Department of Labor.  More specifically, nonresidential construction materials prices are up 0.7 percent for the month and are 0.4 percent higher than the same time one year ago. 

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that nonresidential construction spending increased 0.6 percent in February and has risen 6.1 percent since February 2013. The gains follow nonresidential construction spending declines in both January and December. Spending for the month totaled $580.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.

The U.S. construction industry gained 19,000 jobs in March, while the construction unemployment rate fell to 11.3 percent (non-seasonally adjusted) according to the April 4 employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Nonresidential construction segments added 6,700 jobs in March, a marked improvement from the 2,800 jobs (revised) added in February. The improvement led the construction unemployment rate to fall from 12.8 percent in February and 14.7 percent in March 2013.

Overall construction materials prices increased 0.4 percent in April and are up 1.5 percent year over year, according to the May 14 Producer Price Index released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Nonresidential construction material prices were up 0.5 percent for the month and are 1.4 percent higher than the same time last year. 

The U.S. construction industry gained 32,000 jobs in April, according to the May 2 employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Nonresidential construction segments added 8,100 jobs in April, up from the 5,700 jobs (revised) added in March, while the residential sector continued to build momentum, adding 13,100 jobs for the month. Heavy and civil engineering led the way by adding 10,500 jobs in April. The segment has added an impressive 34,900 jobs in the past 12 months.

Nonresidential construction spending inched down in March, making it the third consecutive month in which spending declined. Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.1 percent on a monthly basis in March but has risen 4.4 percent on a yearly basis according to a May 1 release by the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending for the month totaled $568.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.

Nonresidential fixed investment decreased 2.1 percent and residential fixed investment fell 5.7 percent during the first quarter, according to an April 30 release by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Overall, real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded just 0.1 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rate) during the first quarter of 2014 following a 2.6 percent increase in the fourth quarter of last year.  

Construction materials prices expanded 0.5 percent in March and are up 1.1 percent from March of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s April 11 producer price index release. Nonresidential construction materials prices are up 0.4 percent for the month and are 1 percent higher than the same time one year ago. 

Nonresidential fixed investment expanded 3.8 percent while residential fixed investment fell 9.8 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a Jan. 30 release by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Overall, real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 3.2 percent following a 4.1 percent increase in the third quarter.

Construction materials prices expanded just 0.1 percent in December and are up 1.3 percent year over year, according to a Jan. 15 Producer Price Index released by the Department of Labor. Nonresidential construction materials prices also rose only 0.1 percent for the month and are 1 percent higher than the same time one year ago. 

National construction employment decreased by 16,000 jobs in December, according to a Jan. 10 report by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Nonresidential construction registered the bulk of job losses, contributing 88.1 percent of total construction industry job loss and losing 14,100 positions on a monthly basis.  

Nonresidential construction spending grew 0.6 on a monthly and yearly basis in November 2013, according to the Jan. 2 release by the U.S. Census Bureau. In November, spending totaled $583.436 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis. 

Gains in the Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Confidence Index (CCI) indicate that contractor confidence expanded as 2013 wound to a close, particularly with respect to near-term industry profit margins and staffing levels.  The CCI measures construction prospects along three dimensions – revenues, profit margins and hiring.  All three indices remained above the threshold value of 50, which indicates growth, and each is up on a year-over-year basis.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) reached a new all-time high during the third quarter of 2014 at 8.8 months, eclipsing the previous all-time high of 8.5 months in the second quarter of 2014. The 2014 third quarter backlog is 6.9 percent higher than the third quarter of 2013 and the continued growth of backlog during the last six months likely indicates that 2015 will be a strong year of recovery for the nation’s nonresidential construction industry.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released the following statement in response to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) “ambush” election rule released today.

Washington, D.C. - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) forecasts a steady and ongoing economic recovery for the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industries in 2015. The reasonably brisk industry recovery in 2014 should continue in 2015, with momentum especially growing in segments closely related to the current American energy and industrial production resurgence.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the executive action announced this evening by President Obama.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and more than 50 ABC chapters this week filed comments to voice deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule. ABC also filed additional comments with a group of 374 trade associations led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC).

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that George R. Nash, Jr., Facchina Construction Co., Inc., La Plata, Md., was elected to serve as ABC’s Mid-Atlantic Region vice chair in 2015. Nash also currently serves as the chair of ABC’s national Political Action Committee and has more than 10 years of service at the chapter level, including serving as a mentor and advisor for ABC Metro Washington’s Leadership Development Program and as the chair of the ABC Metro Washington Chapter in 2010. Facchina has received recognition in ABC’s Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) and has won multiple ABC Excellence in Construction Awards.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that Pamela Volm, president of Annapolis Contracting Inc. in Annapolis, Md., has been elected to serve as ABC’s 2015 national chair. Volm has previously served on ABC’s executive committee as Mid-Atlantic region vice chair from Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2013 and on ABC’s national board of directors from 2001-2006. She has also served in a leadership role at the chapter level with ABC’s Chesapeake Shores Chapter.