WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction input prices remained unchanged in October and are just 0.5 percent above where they were a year ago, according to analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Despite the modest increase in the aggregate input price level, the most recent report represents the largest year-over-year price increase since November 2014. Generally, construction input prices, particularly natural gas and crude petroleum, have headed lower since the summer of 2014. However, that pattern of falling prices no longer holds. Crude petroleum prices were up 10.5 percent on a … Read more
AP Receives ABC Excellence in Construction Award for New Joint Training Facility
DENVER, Colo – The Associated Builders and Contractors awarded the city of Aurora, Colorado’s Public Safety Training Center project the 2016 regional Excellence in Construction award for an institutional building between $10 and $25 million. The 23-acre campus consisted of seven different projects to be designed, built and integrated together in a short timeframe. A 1920’s themed gala of industry personnel recognized outstanding construction projects in various categories completed this last year in the Rocky Mountain Region. CAPSTC’s first-place honor was given by judges based on factors such as safety, implementing innovations and overcoming challenges. During the submittal review process, … Read more
Nonresidential Construction Spending Down in September, August Data Upwardly Revised
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.9 percent from August to September 2016, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $690.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 0.7 percent below September 2015’s figure. The government revised the August nonresidential construction spending estimate from $686.6 billion to $696.6 billion; otherwise September spending would have risen on a month-over-month basis. Eleven of 16 nonresidential construction subsectors experienced monthly declines. “Since late 2015, the level of nonresidential construction spending in America has been effectively flat,” said ABC … Read more
Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expands Again During Solid Third Quarter, ABC Reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Real gross domestic product expanded 2.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during the third quarter of 2016, according to an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors. This follows a 1.4 percent increase during the second quarter and represents the tenth consecutive quarter of economic expansion. Nonresidential fixed investment, a category closely aligned with construction and other forms of business investment, expanded at a 1.2 percent annualized rate during the third quarter after growing 1 percent during the second. Investment in structures led the way, increasing by 5.4 … Read more
Contractor Confidence Dips in First Half of 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The average contractor is less confident regarding business prospects for the next six months, but the nonresidential construction recovery is anticipated to remain in place, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released recently. The diffusion index measures forward-looking construction industry expectations in sales, profit margins and staffing levels, with readings above 50 indicating growth. According to the most recent survey, during the first half of 2016: Sales expectations fell from 67.0 to 64.1 Profit margin expectations fell from 62.8 to 61.1 Staffing level intentions rose from 63.9 to 64.9 Although two indices fell, … Read more