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, August 9—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell 0.2 months in July and stands at 8.7 months, according to an ABC member survey conducted July 20 to Aug. 3. The reading is up 0.2 months from July 2021.

WASHINGTON, March 19—Confidence among U.S. construction industry leaders generally improved in January, consistent with the burgeoning momentum of the U.S. economy during the early weeks of 2020, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released today. While the reading for sales expectations edged lower for the month, confidence pertaining to sales, profit margins and staffing levels remain well above the threshold of 50, signaling expected growth in those three metrics.

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, Oct. 24—U.S. construction industry leaders remained confident in August 2019, according to the Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. While contractors were less upbeat regarding sales growth over the coming six months, confidence associated with profit margins and staffing increased from July to August.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19—U.S. construction industry leaders’ confidence diminished somewhat in July 2019, yet they remain optimistic regarding nonresidential construction’s near-term prospects, according to the Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22—U.S. construction industry leaders are somewhat less confident about near-term prospects for nonresidential construction but remain reasonably upbeat, according to the June 2019 Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

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.

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

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