ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Holds Steady in November, Contractor Confidence Surges

Associated Builders and Contractors reported its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 8.4 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 20-Dec. 3. The reading is down .1 months from November 2023. Backlog in the infrastructure category contracted in November, though it is still the only category with higher backlog on a year-over-year basis. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels improved in November. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months. “Contractor confidence surged in November even though … Read more

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Construction Backlog Indicator Slips in October, Contractor Confidence Remains Elevated

Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.4 months in October, according to an ABC member survey conducted Oct. 21-Nov. 4. The reading is unchanged from October 2023. Backlog fell in every region except for the Northeast in October, reversing the previous month’s trend in which every region except for the Northeast saw an increase in backlog. Only the Middle States have longer backlog than one year ago. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and staffing levels improved in October, while the reading for profit margins inched slightly lower. The readings for all three components are above … Read more

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Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in September, Contractor Confidence Improves

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.6 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20-Oct. 4. The reading is down .4 months from September 2023. Backlog increased in every region except for the Northeast in September. On a year-over-year basis, however, only the Middle States have longer backlog than one year ago. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels improved in September. The readings for all three components are above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months. Visit abc.org/economics for the … Read more

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Commercial, Institutional, Healthcare Construction Drive ABC’s Backlog Indicator to Highest Level Since Q2 2019

Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator has increased to 9.2 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 21-Dec. 6. The reading is .8 months higher than in November 2021. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for November 2022. Backlog is now at its highest level since the second quarter of 2019. The increase in backlog observed in November is largely attributed to contractors with under $30 million in revenue, which now have their highest level of backlog in over three years. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for profit margins and staffing … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Jumps; Contractor Confidence Remains Steady

Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 9 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20-Oct. 5. The reading is 1.4 months higher than in Sept. 2021. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for September. Backlog reached its highest level since May and is once again above the level observed at the start of the pandemic (8.9 months in February 2020). Backlog in heavy industrial increased sizably in September, spurred by a 21.5% year-over-year increase in manufacturing-related construction spending. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for profit margins … Read more

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