New Construction Starts in 2017 to Increase 5% to $713 Billion

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Dodge Data & Analytics released its 2017 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2017 will advance 5 percent to $713 billion, following gains of 11 percent in 2015 and an estimated 1 percent in 2016. “The U.S. construction industry has witnessed signs of deceleration in 2016, following several years of steady growth,” stated Robert Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “Total construction starts during the first half of this year lagged behind what was reported in 2015, raising some … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Indicates Further Contraction

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the first time since the summer of 2012, the Architecture Billings Index posted consecutive months of a decline in demand for design services. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the September ABI score was 48.4, down from the mark of 49.7 in the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 59.4, down from a reading of … Read more

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Nonresidential Spending Slips in August

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell for a second consecutive month in August, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $686.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 1.1 percent lower than July’s total of $694.1 billion (revised down from $701 billion) and 1.3 percent below August 2015’s figure. Private nonresidential construction spending fell just 0.4 percent for the month, while its public sector counterpart shrank 2 percent. Four of the five largest nonresidential subsectors—power, highway and street, commercial and manufacturing—combined to fall 2.2 percent … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases in 3/5 of Nation’s Metro Areas Between August 2015 & 2016

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Construction employment increased in three-fifths of metro areas between August 2015 and August 2016—the smallest share in nearly three and a half years—as contractors in many areas report difficulty in finding qualified workers, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new data underscores the need to make it easier for school officials to set up programs that teach skills like construction. “While the number of metro areas with employment increases has been slipping, the number with decreases—76 in August—has held roughly steady,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

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Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 48 States in August

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — August not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates improved in 48 states and the nation on a year-over-year basis, according to a recent analysis released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 5.1 percent was 1 percent lower than a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, producing the lowest August construction unemployment rate on record. BLS data also showed that the industry employed 183,000 more people than in August 2015. “August 2016 continues the unbroken monthly streak of year-over-year rate declines in the construction unemployment rate that began … Read more

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