Nonresidential Construction Input Prices Soar 21% From April 2021 to Last Month

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Prices of materials and services used in new nonresidential construction leaped nearly 21% in April from year-ago levels, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. The association urged the Biden administration to provide relief to hard-hit employers by ending tariffs on key construction materials and reconsidering its recently proposed buy America regulations that will make it harder for firms to find and pay for key construction materials.   “Nonresidential contractors have endured 12 months of 20% increases in the cost of items they need to build projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief … Read more

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BTEA New York Promotes Construction Safety with National Industry Forum

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The Building Trades Employers Association held its second-annual SAFEBUILD National Industry Forum. The interactive sessions offered insights from experts on handling worker impairment, creating an effective safety culture, navigating the industry post-pandemic, and more. During the forum, representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and New York City Department of Buildings delivered the NYC Construction Incident Report for 2020-21, announcing that building construction-related incidents in the city have continued to decrease in 2021, dropping another 10% compared to 2020, and over 40% since 2018.

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Increase in April

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Construction input prices increased 0.8% in April 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 rose 0.9% for the month. Construction input prices are up 23.7% from a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 24% higher. Input prices were up in 10 of 11 subcategories in April. Softwood lumber was the only category in which prices decreased, falling 17.7% for the month. The largest price increases were in natural gas (+16.9%) and unprocessed energy materials (+10.3%).

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New Report Explores Architect, Contractor Relationship

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A study published today by the American Institute of Architects, in partnership with the Associated General Contractors of America, sheds new light on the relationship of architects and contractors and the needs of both professions. The fifth edition of The Architect’s Journey to Specification focuses on improving the working relationship between architects and contractors and explores how the parties align, differ and depend on each other. Highlights from the report include: A majority of architects and contractors want to work more collaboratively for the benefit of all. Successful relationships benefit from mutual understandings and alignment about client advocacy and the … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Up in April; Contractor Confidence Down

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.8 months in April, according to an member survey conducted from April 20 to May 4. The reading is up 0.9 months from April 2021. The index readings for sales and staffing levels declined in April, while the reading for profit margins moved higher. All three indices remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months.

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