The construction industry had 350,000 job openings on the last day of August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings decreased by 3,000 last month but are up by 5,000 from the same time last year. “The number of open, unfilled construction positions declined in August but remains higher than both one year ago and the pre-pandemic level,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Despite … Read more

Construction input prices remained unchanged in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released. Nonresidential construction input prices were also unchanged for the month. Overall construction input prices are 4.9% lower than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 4.5% lower. Prices decreased in all three energy subcategories in June. Crude petroleum prices were down 5.9%, while natural gas prices fell 5.3%. Unprocessed energy materials prices decreased 5% for the month.

Construction input prices fell .6% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices declined .5% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 3.7% lower than a year ago. Nonresidential construction input prices are 3.4% lower. Prices declined in all three energy subcategories. Crude petroleum prices were down 10.2% in May, while unprocessed energy materials were down 7.8%. Natural gas prices fell 2% for the month. “The headline numbers suggest broad-based deflation in construction materials prices,” said ABC … Read more