ABC’s March Construction Backlog Indicator Down to Lowest Level

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.7 months in March, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 20-April 3. The reading is .4 months higher than in March 2022. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for March. View the historic Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog slipped in March and is at its lowest level since August 2022. Backlog is down on a monthly basis in every region except for the South, which continues to be associated with elevated levels of current and future construction … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator, Contractor Confidence Index Rise in June

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Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.5 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 20-July 6, 0.5 months higher than in May 2021 and 0.4 months higher than in June 2020. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased modestly in June. All three indices remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months. “Nonresidential contractors continue to predict a strong rebound in activity over the balance of the year,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Despite recent weakness … Read more

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Inches Higher in May, Materials + Labor Shortages Suppress Contractor Confidence

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Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.0 months in May, according to an ABC member survey conducted from May 20 to June 2, 0.1 months higher than in April 2021 and May 2020. While ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales increased modestly in May, confidence regarding profit margins and staffing levels slipped. All three indices remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months. “Nonresidential construction backlog continues to edge higher, consistent with expectations that sales, profit margins and staffing will expand over the next six months,” … Read more

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Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in October, Contractor Optimism Rises

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported its Construction Backlog Indicator rebounded to 7.7 months in October, an increase of 0.2 months from September’s reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5. The backlog is 1.2 months lower than in October 2019. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in October. Sales and staffing index readings remained above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of expansion over the next six months. For profit margins, this is the eighth consecutive month of decreasing readings. “Given political uncertainty, surging COVID-19 infections, a … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Employment Expands in September, Says ABC

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The construction industry added 26,000 jobs on net in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last five months, the industry has added 689,000 jobs, recovering approximately 64% of the jobs lost since the start of the pandemic. Nonresidential construction employment added 4,000 jobs on net in September. Two subsegments, nonresidential building and nonresidential specialty trade, experienced employment gains, adding 5,300 and 2,100 jobs, respectively. Heavy and civil engineering partially offset those gains, however, losing 3,400 jobs on net. The construction unemployment rate was 7.1% … Read more

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