ABC: Nonresidential Construction Spending Falls Sharply in January

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in January, 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 $1.190 trillion. Spending was down on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.1%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.0% in January. Healthcare construction decreased slightly from December to January, spending overall in this sector is up 13% from last January. “Despite January’s disappointing data, nonresidential construction spending is still up more than 17% over the past year,” … Read more

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ABC: Nonresidential Construction Adds Nearly 12,000 Jobs in December

The construction industry added 17,000 jobs on net in December, 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 grown by 197,000 jobs, an increase of 2.5%. Last month, nonresidential construction employment increased by 11,900 positions on net, with growth in two of the three subcategories. Nonresidential building added 8,100 positions, while nonresidential specialty trade added 4,300 jobs on net. Heavy and civil engineering lost 500 jobs. The construction unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December. Unemployment across all industries remained unchanged at 3.7% … Read more

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ABC Construction Backlog Indicator Falls for Small Contractors, Increases for Large Contractors

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.4 months in October from 9 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Oct. 19-Nov. 2. The reading is down 0.4 months from October 2022. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for October. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog now stands at its lowest level since the first quarter of 2022. Declines were concentrated among the smallest contractors, those with less than $30 million in annual revenues. All three other revenue categories experienced an … Read more

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ABC September Construction Backlog Indicator Dips

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to nine months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. The reading is equivalent to one year ago. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for September. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Though it declined last month, the South continues to have the lengthiest backlog, which has been the case since October 2021. Over the past year, only the West has experienced increasing backlog. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales and … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Steady in June

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 8.9 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 20-July 5. The reading is unchanged from June 2022. View the historic Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog in the infrastructure category increased for the third straight month and is now at the highest level in nearly two years. On a regional basis, the South remains the region with the highest backlog, despite being the only region in which backlog declined in June. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales, profit margins … Read more

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