Only 23 States, D.C. Add Construction Jobs Between September and October

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Only 23 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September and October while construction employment increased in 35 states between October 2015 and October 2016, according to analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other public projects were undermining construction employment growth in many parts of the country. “Firms that perform public-sector work are having a hard time finding enough work to keep their teams together,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association, noting that public-sector spending on construction is down […]

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Architecture Billings Index Rebounds After Two Down Months

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – After seeing consecutive months of contracting demand for the first time in four years, the Architecture Billings Index saw a modest increase 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 October ABI score was 50.8, up from the mark of 48.4 in the previous month. This score reflects a slight increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 55.4, down sharply […]

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Construction Input Prices Remain Flat in October, ABC Says

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction input prices remained unchanged in October and are just 0.5 percent above where they were a year ago, according to analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Despite the modest increase in the aggregate input price level, the most recent report represents the largest year-over-year price increase since November 2014. Generally, construction input prices, particularly natural gas and crude petroleum, have headed lower since the summer of 2014. However, that pattern of falling prices no longer holds. Crude petroleum prices were up 10.5 percent on a […]

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Dodge Momentum Index Moves Higher in October

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index grew 4.1 percent in October to 133.6 from its revised September reading of 128.3 (2000=100). The index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. October’s gain nearly reversed the loss in September, and returns the Momentum Index to the rising trend that began earlier in the year. The commercial component of the Momentum Index rose 6.1 percent in October, and is 20 percent above last year. This suggests […]

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Down in September, August Data Upwardly Revised

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.9 percent from August to September 2016, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $690.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 0.7 percent below September 2015’s figure. The government revised the August nonresidential construction spending estimate from $686.6 billion to $696.6 billion; otherwise September spending would have risen on a month-over-month basis. Eleven of 16 nonresidential construction subsectors experienced monthly declines. “Since late 2015, the level of nonresidential construction spending in America has been effectively flat,” said ABC […]

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