Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.7 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 21 to Oct. 5. The reading is up 0.2 months on both a monthly and yearly basis. Commercial and institutional backlog, which dipped in the middle of 2026, rose to the highest level since July 2025. Heavy industrial backlog, while still up 0.5 months over the past year, fell to its lowest level since March. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for staffing increased in September, while the readings for sales and profit margins fell. The readings […]
ABC Survey: 1 in 6 Members Perform Data Center Work; Backlog Rebounds in August
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rebounded to 8.5 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 20 to Sept. 4. The reading is up 0.5 months from July and unchanged on a year-ago basis. Only the largest contractors experienced a decline in backlog in August. On a year-over-year basis, backlog gains are concentrated among the smallest contractors (those with less than $30 million in annual revenues). ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and profit margins increased in August, while the reading for staffing levels fell. The readings for all three components […]
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Slips, Contractors Remain Confident in June
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.8 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 22 to July 8. The reading is down 0.3 months from May but up 0.1 months from June 2025. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for June. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Only the Middle States region experienced backlog growth on a monthly basis in June. In the Northeast region, backlog contracted sharply in June and is down by over a month from a year ago. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings […]
ABC’s Construction Backlog Surges in May, Contractor Confidence Slips
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 9.1 months in May, according to an ABC member survey conducted May 20 to June 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from April and 0.7 months from May 2025. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for May. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog for the month increased in every region except for the South. Despite the monthly movement, the South remains the region with the longest backlog and the largest year-over-year increase in backlog. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit […]
Nonresidential Construction Spending Grows on Public Sector Strength in April
National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in April, 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 $1.250 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.2%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.4% in April. Spending on data centers, which is included in the office category, increased another 1.9% in April, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $50.7 billion, and is up 28.1% over the past year. “Nonresidential construction […]



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