ABC: Construction Materials Costs Fall With Oil Prices in June

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Construction input prices decreased 1.1% in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices also decreased 1.1% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 7.6% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 7.4% higher. Prices decreased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum prices declined 12.1%, and unprocessed energy materials fell 8.1%. Natural gas prices were up 16.6% in June. “Aggregate construction input prices receded in June due to the steep decline … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Slips, Contractors Remain Confident in June

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.8 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 22 to July 8. The reading is down 0.3 months from May but up 0.1 months from June 2025.  View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for June. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Only the Middle States region experienced backlog growth on a monthly basis in June. In the Northeast region, backlog contracted sharply in June and is down by over a month from a year ago.  ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings … Read more

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ABC Releases Latest Construction Spending Data

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National nonresidential construction spending slid 1.5% in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.267 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 11 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. “Private nonresidential construction spending shrank for the seventh consecutive month in May and is now down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This weakness is largely due to the ongoing decline in manufacturing-related construction spending as CHIPS Act-supported projects wind down, yet overall there are few sources of … Read more

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ABC: Construction Job Openings Rise to 10-Month High in May, Hiring Remains Historically Slow

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The construction industry had 298,000 job openings on the last day of May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 32,000 last month and are up by 76,000 from the same time last year. “Construction job openings rose to a 10-month high in May,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Unfortunately, that increase likely reflects exceptional demand for certain occupations critical to data center … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Surges in May, Contractor Confidence Slips

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 9.1 months in May, according to an ABC member survey conducted May 20 to June 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from April and 0.7 months from May 2025.  View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for May. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog for the month increased in every region except for the South. Despite the monthly movement, the South remains the region with the longest backlog and the largest year-over-year increase in backlog. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit … Read more

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