ABC: Construction Materials Prices Tame in April Despite Rising Iron, Steel Costs

  • Posted on

Construction input prices decreased 0.1% 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 increased 0.2% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 0.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 0.2% higher. Prices decreased in all three energy categories last month. Natural gas prices were down 7.1%, while prices for unprocessed energy materials and crude petroleum were down 5.0% and 4.9%, respectively. “Construction input prices declined in April, but that was largely due to … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , ,

Milwaukee Tool Reaches 100K+ Workers During 2025 Construction Safety Week

  • Posted on

Each year, more than 150,000 construction workers are injured on the job in the U.S. — a sobering reminder that even as the industry navigates challenges like rising material costs and shifting trade policies, the protection of frontline workers must remain a top priority. Milwaukee Tool is taking bold steps to meet that challenge, investing more than $10 million annually in the trades. Among other things, this investment is being used to advance safety education, provide hands-on training and create real-world solutions that reduce risk on the jobsite. During Construction Safety Week held May 5-9, that commitment came to life … Read more

Filed under: News, SafetyTagged with: ,

ABC: Backlog, Profit Margin Expectations Improve in April Despite Tariff Impacts

  • Posted on

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to a 20-month high of 8.7 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted April 22 to May 6. The reading is up 0.3 months since April 2024. Backlog has increased significantly over the past year for contractors with greater than $100 million in annual revenues. While backlog has also risen modestly for the smallest contractors, it is down on an annual basis for those with $30 million to $100 million in annual revenues. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for profit margins improved in April, while the … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , ,

USGBC Launches New, More Comprehensive LEED Rating System

  • Posted on

The U.S. Green Building Council launched LEED v5, the latest version of its flagship Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building program. LEED v5 registration is available for new construction, interior and existing commercial building projects. Highlights include: Decarbonization accounts for half of all points for LEED v5 certification to confront current climate needs. The new rating system provides clear, actionable steps to deliver ultra-low-carbon buildings by targeting emissions reductions across all aspects of the building lifecycle. All LEED v5 projects will complete an operational carbon projection and will be given tools to craft a comprehensive, long-term decarbonization strategy. Quality … Read more

Filed under: NewsTagged with: ,

Associated Builders and Contractors Releases Latest Construction Spending Analysis

  • Posted on

National nonresidential construction spending decreased .5% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.25 trillion. Spending was down on a monthly basis in 11 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending fell .8%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down .2% in March. “Nonresidential construction spending fell sharply in March, with declines spread across virtually every private subsector,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Data center investments, which accounted for more than 70% of the increase in private nonresidential … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , ,