Public Nonresidential Construction Up in July, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3 percent in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Total nonresidential spending stood at $748.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate in July, an increase of 5.3 percent from the same time last year. Private nonresidential spending fell 1 percent in July, while public nonresidential spending expanded 0.7 percent. Read the rest of entry »

July Construction Unemployment Rates Down in Every State Year Over Year, Says ABC

 WASHINGTON, Aug. 28—For the second time this year, estimated June construction unemployment rates fell in every state and nationally 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. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Material Prices Inch Down in July, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9—Prices for inputs to construction fell 0.2 percent in July but are 9.5 percent higher than a year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.3 percent in July but are up 9.6 percent year over year. Softwood lumber prices are up 19.5 percent from July 2017, while iron and steel prices are up 13.4 percent. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Adds 19,000 Jobs as Unemployment Plummets in July, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3—The U.S. construction industry added 19,000 net new jobs in July after adding 13,000 net new jobs in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has added 308,000 net new jobs since the first of the year, a robust increase of 4.4 percent. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Spending Dips in June, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1—Nonresidential construction spending contracted 1.6 percent on a monthly basis in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Spending totaled $742.4 billion on a seasonally adjusted annual rate for the month, a 4.2 percent increase from the same time one year ago. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.3 percent in June, while public nonresidential spending contracted by 3.5 percent.

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ABC Applauds Reauthorization of Perkins Act to Drive Workforce Education

WASHINGTON, July 31—Associated Builders and Contractors today praised Congress and the administration for passing a bipartisan reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, one of the key federal programs that supports vocational education programs that align with local workforce needs and lead to industry-recognized credentials. Read the rest of entry »

June Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 15 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 31—Estimated June construction unemployment rates fell in 15 states on a year-over-year basis, rose in 33 states and were unchanged in two states (Arizona and New Hampshire), according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Fixed Investment Surges in Second Quarter, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 27—The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized 4.1 percent rate during the second quarter of 2018—the fastest rate of quarterly growth since the second quarter of 2014, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data released today. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Calls for Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities in Congressional Testimony

WASHINGTON, July 26—On behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors, Mike Holland, chief operating officer, MAREK Companies, testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about the need to modernize and expand apprenticeship opportunities in the United States. In his testimony, Holland outlined the construction industry’s workforce de Read the rest of entry »

ABC, Industry Groups Urge President Trump to Reverse Obama-era Policy on Project Labor Agreements

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2018—Associated Builders and Contractors joined a coalition of construction and business associations urging President Trump to eliminate government-mandated project labor agreements and allow all qualified contractors to compete for federal and federally assisted taxpayer-funded construction projects. Read the rest of entry »