ABC: Construction Input Prices Increase in April

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Construction input prices increased 0.5% in April compared to the previous month, according to the latest Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased .6% for the month. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum prices were up 10.6%, while unprocessed energy materials prices increased 8.2%. Natural gas prices were down slightly by 0.9%. “Construction input prices jumped half a percentage point higher in April and have increased 3.5% over the first four months of the year,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While iron, steel, asphalt and gypsum product prices fell in April, oil and copper prices surged, driving the monthly increase. Rising input prices will put pressure … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.2 months in March from 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 20-April 3. The reading is down 0.5 months from March 2023. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for March. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog is down over the past year for every region except for the Middle States, which now has the second largest backlog of any region. The South continues to have the largest backlog despite a large decline … Read more

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ABC: Nonresidential Construction Adds 24,600 Jobs

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The construction industry added 39,000 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 expanded by 270,000 jobs, an increase of 3.4%.  Nonresidential construction employment increased by 24,600 positions on net, with growth in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added the most jobs, increasing by 16,300 positions. Heavy and civil engineering and nonresidential building added 6,000 and 2,300 jobs, respectively. The construction unemployment rate fell to 5.4% in March. Unemployment across all industries declined from 3.9% in February … Read more

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New AI Resource Guide Available for Contractors

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Associated Builders and Contractors has released an artificial intelligence technology guide for the construction community, which includes definitions, construction use cases and considerations. The purpose of the guide is to provide a level of knowledge to ensure contractors can be active participants in the construction AI conversation. The guide describes uses of AI during the construction project lifecycle, including preconstruction, construction and building maintenance. It also provides definitions of terms, such as deep learning and predictive AI, as well as best practices in drafting office AI policies. “The possibilities of AI technology may sound endless, but we must first educate … Read more

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ABC Announces 2024 Top-Performing US Construction Contractors

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Associated Builders and Contractors has released its 2024 Top Performers lists that recognize its contractor members’ outstanding achievements in safety, quality, inclusion, project excellence and special designations ranked by number of hours worked. The No. 1 2024 ABC Top Performer by work hours is Turner Industries Group LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; followed by Skanska Building Inc., Franklin, Tennessee; BL Harbert International, Birmingham, Alabama; Brown & Root Industrial Services, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Performance Contractors, Baton Rouge. “These top contractors build the nation’s most enduring, innovative, high-quality construction projects, and their leadership teams and employees have thriving, growth-centric mindsets, strategic plans … Read more

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