ABC Predicts Modest Growth for 2017 Nonresidential Construction Sector

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors forecasts a slowdown of growth in the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industries in 2017. While contractors are vulnerable to rising commodity prices and potential interest rate increases in 2017, the middling consumer-led recovery should still lead to modest growth in construction spending and employment.

“The U.S. economy continues to expand amid a weak global economy and, despite risks to the construction industry, nonresidential spending should expand 3.5 percent in 2017,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “For more than two years, the Federal Reserve has been able to focus heavily on stimulating economic growth and moving the nation toward full employment. However, as commodity prices, including energy prices, firm up and labor costs march higher, the Federal Reserve will need to be more concerned about rising inflation expectations going forward. Associated increases in interest rates could have significantly negative impacts on certain asset prices, including stocks, bonds, commercial real estate and apartment buildings.

“Contractors also should be prepared for increases in commodity prices, which could translate into further stagnation in construction spending volumes if the purchasers of construction services are not prepared for related cost increases,” warned Basu. “Additionally, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that construction job openings stand at a 10-year high and that average hourly earnings for construction workers rose above $28 per hour in 2016. The demand for construction workers is positioned to remain high and is likely to increase already significant wage pressures.

“However, there is a bullish scenario,” said Basu. “According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average age of all fixed assets, including structures such as factories and hospitals, stands at 23 years—the oldest on record tracing back to 1925—and there is a collective awareness among American enterprises that they will need to replace much of their capital stock in future years. In addition, now rising energy prices could produce more investment and rising earnings—potentially translating into better support for asset prices, ongoing hiring and consumer spending.

“Despite some headwinds, many construction firms continue to report that they remain busy and ABC’s most recent Construction Confidence Index revealed that while construction firm leaders are not quite as confident as they were in prior quarters, most continue to expect growth in sales, margins and staffing levels,” concluded Basu.