How Civil Contractors Are Managing the Biggest Challenges They Confront

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The latest edition of The Civil Quarterly from Dodge Construction Network shows that despite ongoing labor issues, business conditions are still very strong for civil contractors, with 77% optimistic about the market continuing to be robust for the remainder of 2023, and 46% expecting to see their profit margins increase in the next six months. However, the strong construction market can also exacerbate civil contractor’s ongoing challenges, such as skilled worker shortages and supply chain challenges. This edition of the TCQ offers new data that reveals how contractors are managing these challenges, including how they are attempting to use technology … Read more

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Building Costs Increases Slow in the First Quarter of 2023

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Turner Construction Company has released its First Quarter 2023 Turner Building Cost Index — which measures costs in the nonresidential building construction market in the United States — had increased to the value of 1349. This represents a 1.28% quarterly increase from the fourth quarter 2022 and a 7.49% yearly increase from the first quarter 2022. The building costs and price trends tracked by the index may or may not reflect regional conditions in any given quarter. The cost index is determined by several factors considered on a nationwide basis, including labor rates and productivity, material prices and the competitive … Read more

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Market Report Reveals $97B in Additional Material, Labor Costs for Subcontractors in 2022

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Billd has released its third-annual construction industry market report, the 2023 National Subcontractor Market Report: $97 Billion in Extra Weight on the Shoulders of America’s Subcontractors. Billd surveyed nearly 900 commercial construction professionals across the country, largely consisting of business owners and executives. The report indicates that subcontractors continued to bear the brunt of rising input costs for materials and labor in 2022 to the tune of $97 billion in unplanned expenses. Rising material costs and price volatility are not new issues for subcontractors, with 81% of those surveyed reporting a negative effect on their businesses in 2022; 80% expect that trend to continue. It is … Read more

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ABC’s March Construction Backlog Indicator Down to Lowest Level

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.7 months in March, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 20-April 3. The reading is .4 months higher than in March 2022. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for March. View the historic Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog slipped in March and is at its lowest level since August 2022. Backlog is down on a monthly basis in every region except for the South, which continues to be associated with elevated levels of current and future construction … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Slowdown Continues

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More architecture firms reported a decline in billings in February, indicating an extension of a recent downturn in design activity according to a new report released from The American Institute of Architects. The score for February fell slightly to 48 (any score below 50 indicates a decline in firm billings). However, inquiries into new projects continued to improve, as did the value of new design contracts. Both indicators suggest that design work is expected to improve in the coming months. Key ABI highlights for February include: Regional averages: West (50.4); Midwest (48.8); Northeast (48.4); South (47.3) Sector index breakdown: mixed … Read more

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