Construction Industry News

WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2021) — On Friday, the United States Congress approved a budget resolution that would pave the way for President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief plan to pass — with some key adjustments. The Senate voted to approve early that morning in an even vote in which Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote. 

WASHINGTON (Jan. 24, 2021) — This week, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was sworn in as transportation secretary by the United States Senate. In a video he tweeted following his confirmation, Buttigieg noted the work to be done in the transportation sector, but said he was optimistic about the future. 

WASHINGTON (Feb.1, 2021) — In its annual release on national union membership, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the percentage of wage and salary workers who were members of unions was 10.8% across all industries.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2021) — National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.8% in December 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the United States Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $790.2 billion for the month, 4.8% lower than in December 2019 but 3.8% higher than in December 2018.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2021) —The United States economy expanded at an annualized 4.0% rate in the fourth quarter of 2020 as the nation’s recovery from last spring’s economic devastation continued. Nonresidential investment in structures increased at a 3.0% annualized rate in the fourth quarter.

HAMILTON, N.J.(Jan. 26, 2021) —The value of commercial and multifamily construction starts in the top 20 metropolitan areas of the United States lost 23% in 2020, falling to $111.1 billion according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Nationally, commercial and multifamily starts tumbled 20% over the year to $193.4 billion.

The United States Small Business Administration has spent January 2021 making several key announcements regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, including guidance concerning PPP loan review and several final rulings on the topic.

The 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, has been in office for less than a week, and he has already made several key changes—including signing 15 executive orders on his first day in the White House. Here's a quick recap of changes that affect the construction industry:

This week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released his fiscal year 2022 spending plan, which included $306 billion in funding for infrastructure and construction projects in the state over the next year. Cuomo referred to the sizable plan as the "largest in the nation." Here's the high points of that particular section in the funding package: 

Need a quick recap of what leading associations are reporting in terms of construction stats? We've got you. Read a summary of what three industry organizations are reporting in construction activity from December 2020 below, and click the links at the end of each section for an extended version of each news item. 

WASHINGTON (Jan. 15, 2021)—Construction input prices increased 1.8% in December 2020 compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices rose 2.1% for the month.

NEW JERSEY (January 19, 2021)—Total construction starts lost 5% in December, falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $784.3 billion. Nonresidential building starts fell 11% during the month, while nonbuilding starts were 5% lower. Residential starts were essentially flat over the month. Starts were lower in three of the four regions in December; the South Central region was the only one to post an increase.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2021)—Demand for design services from United States architecture firms took a pointed dip last month, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

NATIONAL—Last week, President-elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan—the American Rescue Plan—which aims to sustain United States citizens and businesses until vaccines are widely distributed across the country.

Fluor Corporation announced an updated organizational and reporting structure that better aligns its business with identified growth markets and company strategy.

NATIONAL—Construction employment increased by 51,000 jobs in December, with gains for nonresidential as well as residential contractors, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 4, 2021)—National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.6% in November 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the United States Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $792.5 billion for the month.

WASHINGTON—More contractors are facing a shortage of building materials as the pandemic continues, according to fourth quarter data from the United States Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (Index).

SALT LAKE CITY—In December 2020, the Utah Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released preliminary findings from its 2020 Report Card for Utah's Infrastructure. Utah civil engineers gave 12 categories of infrastructure an overall grade of a 'C+,' one of the highest grades in the nation, meaning the state's infrastructure is in mediocre condition, but there are some signs of improvement.

Over the weekend, President Trump signed a massive $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief and government funding bill, averting a government shutdown that was due to start on Tuesday if an agreement was not reached beforehand.