ABC: Nonresidential Construction Spending Rises to Highest Level on Record in February

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National nonresidential construction spending increased .3% in February, 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 roughly $1.2 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 9 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending increased .4%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up .2% in February. “Nonresidential spending rebounded in February, rising to the highest level on record,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “A surge in highway and street spending accounted for more than 40% of the monthly increase, and … Read more

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ABC Obtains National Recovery Friendly Workplace Certification

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Associated Builders and Contractors has achieved certification as a recovery-friendly workplace from the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation’s National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute. The rigorous certification recognizes ABC’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for employees in recovery from substance use disorders, as well as their loved ones. The certification recognizes ABC’s adherence to four requirements that ensure individuals with substance use disorders get the same level of early access to treatment and recovery supports as other medical conditions would: Culture: Promoting a recovery-friendly workplace with supportive policies and leadership. Hiring, retention and advancement: Supporting fair hiring practices and employee wellness. … Read more

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Prices For Nonresidential Construction Materials, Services Climb .5% in February

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The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction rose .5% in February, following an increase of .7% in January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. The producer price index for inputs to new nonresidential construction —a weighted average of all materials and certain services used in new construction — increased for the second month in a row. Meanwhile, the index for new nonresidential building construction — a measure of what contractors report they would charge to put up a specific set of buildings — dipped by .1% in February, following … Read more

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ABC: Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs Still Do Not Meet Construction Workforce Needs

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At current rates of participation and completion, federal and state government-registered apprenticeship programs, or GRAPs, are still failing to meet the construction industry’s short- and long-term skilled workforce development needs, according to an annual Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of released U.S. Department of Labor data. ABC estimates that, in fiscal year 2024, the construction industry’s federal and state GRAPs had about 290,000 apprentice participants and yielded less than 40,000 completers.* The DOL’s data presents 5-year trend lines indicating there has been stronger proportional growth in the number of nonunion GRAPs, apprentice participants and apprentice completers compared to union-affiliated GRAPs … Read more

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Construction Materials Prices Increase .6%, Steel Surges Nearly 4% in February

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Construction input prices increased .6% in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased .6% for the month. Overall construction input prices are .3% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are .1% lower. Iron and steel, steel mill product and softwood lumber prices all increased sharply in February. “Nonresidential input prices increased at a rapid pace in February and have risen at a far-too-hot 9% annualized rate through the first two months of 2025,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban … Read more

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