ABC Releases March Construction Spending Data

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Construction input prices increased 0.5% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.6% for the month. Both overall and nonresidential construction input prices are 0.8% higher than one year ago. While crude petroleum prices fell considerably in March, that decline was more than offset by rapidly rising natural gas, steel, copper and lumber prices. “Construction input prices increased at a rapid pace for the third consecutive month in March and have now risen at a 9.7% annualized rate through the first quarter … Read more

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ICC, Center for Offsite Construction Collaborate to Establish Modular Interface Standards

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The International Code Council and the Center for Offsite Construction at the New York Institute of Technology are collaborating to develop a standard for modular construction through the creation of the “CFOC/ICC 1220 Standard on Configurations and Connections for Off-Site Construction.” The publication is expected to be finalized and made available by May 31, 2026. The standard will address requirements for configuration and connections in off-site construction, including the location and specifications of module-to-module and building-to-module connections for essential building systems, the standardization of dimensions for modular components and coverage for componentized, panelized and modularized elements. The standard will provide … Read more

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New Crane Index, Quarterly Cost Report from Rider Levett Bucknall

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Rider Levett Bucknall has released its latest Crane Index and Quarterly Cost Report, providing a perspective on the North American construction industry in 16 key markets (formerly 14; Miami and Nashville have been newly added to the Quarterly Cost Report). The latest RLB quarterly cost report, with data current to mid-Q1 2025, shows that the national average change in construction costs was .98% in Q1, which was down from 1.11% in Q4; congruently, the year-over-year rate is 4.35%, down from 5.86% this time last year. Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Portland and Seattle experienced increases in construction costs over the national average … Read more

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Topping-Out Ceremony Held for Hackensack Meridian Health Facility at Transit Hub

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Hackensack Meridian Health topped off construction of its health and wellness center at a transit hub located in Woodbridge, New Jersey. When it opens later this year, it will offer more than 60,000 square feet of healthcare services just steps from one of the state’s busiest mass transit hubs. Health services offered will include primary care, medical specialties, surgical specialties, sports and spine center of excellence, advanced imaging, phlebotomy, rehabilitation, retail pharmacy, occupational health and urgent care. The $200-million project will also consolidate Hackensack Meridian’s corporate offices, currently in Edison, within the upper floors of the Metropark facility, offering team … Read more

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March Construction Employment Up Just 1.8% Year Over Year

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The construction industry added 13,000 jobs on net in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has risen by a mere 143,000 jobs, an increase of 1.8%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 22,300 positions on net in March, with growth in 2 of the 3 subsegments. Nonresidential specialty trade added the most jobs, with a monthly increase of 19,300 positions, while heavy and civil engineering added 3,400 jobs. The nonresidential building subsegment lost 400 positions. The construction unemployment rate decreased to 5.4% … Read more

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