Construction Industry News

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2021) — The $1.9 trillion relief bill signed by President Biden today includes $10 billion in funds for the "Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund." These funds will go toward projects that "carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education and health monitoring, including remote options," in response to the COVI

INDIANAPOLIS (March 8, 2021) — NTEA - The Association for the Work Truck Industry, kicked off its virtual Work Truck Week March 8. The event showcased new product releases and offered a glimpse at the future of trucks in the construction industry.

WASHINGTON (March 5, 2021) — According to an 

WASHINGTON (March 3, 2021) — The American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) released its 2021 Score Card today, bumping America’s infrastructure score up to a C-, the first time it has graded outside of the D range in 20 years. The C range of scores indicates a “mediocre score with some elements exhibiting significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality.”

WASHINGTON (March 2, 2021) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the upcoming boost to United States infrastructure a once-in-a-generation opportunity in an interview Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (March 1, 2021) — Nonresidential construction spending increased by 0.9% in January over the previous month according to

LONDON (Feb. 24, 2021) — According to survey results in the latest IHS Markit and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG), construction prices have continued an upward trend in the past month. This is largely attributed to copper prices increasing for the eighth consecutive month, a rise in carbon steel pipe and fabricated structural steel prices from January and a third straight price increase for transformers.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2021) — A report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shows that the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Law funded more than 110,000 Road & Bridge Improvements between fiscal years 2016 and 2020. The research shows that states leveraged nearly $200 billion in federal funds to support over $340.5 billion in new highway and bridge program improvements. 

WASHINGTON (Feb. 24, 2021) — Lumber prices have risen dramatically this year, prompting concerns for the construction industry. Data from Random Lengths indicates softwood lumber prices have risen 112%. The costs for homebuilders and renovation contractors are nearing record highs and have even prompted The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) to pen a letter to President Biden asking for his intervention.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 2021) — The Biden administration has announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan program that may impact the construction industry. For a 2-week period beginning on February 24, only small business with fewer than 20 employees can apply for new PPP loans. The goal is to help the smallest businesses collect funds to offset financial instability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON, (Feb. 19, 2021) — The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) has released a new, comprehensive report that includes policy recommendations to combat the growing infrastructure problem in America.

HAMILTON, N.J. (Feb. 17, 2021) — According to Dodge Data & Analytics' latest Construction Starts release total construction starts dropped 4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $794.3 billion.

TEXAS (Feb. 16 2021) — Severe winter weather across the country is causing blackouts and delays this week. Construction projects in Texas may be hit particularly hard as the overloaded power grid creates rolling blackouts lasing 30 hours or more in some parts of the state.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 17, 2021) —The construction industry has received more than $13 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans this year, second only to restaurants and hotels.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 9, 2021) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED green building with Massachusetts leading the country in 2020 with the most certified square feet per capita. Across the top states, more than 60% of certifications were office, healthcare, higher education and K-12 projects. This year, USGBC also released a ranking of states with the most LEED professionals with California taking the top spot.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 15, 2021) — Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with Autodesk.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 11, 2021) — Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with FlowForma.

LOS ANGELES and DALLAS (Feb. 8, 2021) — Despite tumultuous conditions and fluctuating markets in 2020 amid the pandemic, AECOM and Jacobs have both reported profits. AECOM recently reported 3.31 billion in revenue for its first fiscal quarter — a 2.4% rise over its previous year. The firm still expects its income to be flat in 2021 due to a backlog drop of 3.5% from the fourth quarter of 2020. Read the AECOM report here.

ATLANTA (Feb. 11, 2021) — Contracting giant Skanska Group released its 2020 earnings last week, reporting a record high in profits for 2020, even during a pandemic and despite the fact that its Q4 construction revenue was significantly down. Here's what you need to know:

HAMILTON, N.J  (Feb. 5, 2021) — The Dodge Momentum Index increased 3.1% in January to 139.4 from the revised December reading of 135.2. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.