Construction Industry News

WASHINGTON—Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in June, an increase of 0.2 months from May’s reading. CBI is down approximately 8% from its June 2019 level. Every region except the Middle States experienced an increase in backlog in June compared to May, according to an ABC member survey conducted from June 20-July 1.

NEWTON, Massachusetts–Proposal activity for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms sank to its lowest quarterly level in over a decade in the second quarter of 2020, as the coronavirus-related downturn trimmed backlog and reduced revenue for firms coast to coast. 

HAMILTON, N.J. (July 8, 2020)—Heavy civil construction is deemed essential to our economy and has continued in many jurisdictions throughout the economic shutdown. However, data from The Civil Quarterly (TCQ), a new publication from Dodge Data & Analytics launched, reveals contractors in this sector are facing supply chain issues and other challenges in keeping jobsites going.

WASHINGTON (July 10, 2020)—Construction input prices rose 2.2% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices rose by 2.3% for the month.

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY (July 8, 2020)—The Dodge Momentum Index dropped 6.6% in June to 121.5 from the revised May reading of 130.1.

WASHINGTON—Associated Builders and Contractors announced the cancellation of ABC Convention 2020, which was scheduled for August 17-19 in Nashville, Tennessee. The event, which includes the National Craft Championships, Construction Management Competition and National Excellence in Construction Awards, was previously postponed from March due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Last week, the United States House of Representatives approved a climate-friendly $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that would allocate billions of dollars to addressing ever-increasing issues with roads and bridges, transit systems, railways, harbors, ports and channels.

WASHINGTON—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.9% in May, according to an 

Construction employment increased in 329 out of 358 metro areas between April and May as a new survey finds that two-thirds of highway construction firms had at least one crash in the past year at highway work zones they operate.

Construction spending declined for the third month in a row in May as a sharp slowdown in private projects more than offset a rise in public work, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released. Association officials warned that the pickup in public projects is likely to reverse soon unless the federal government acts quickly to invest in needed infrastructure and shore up crumbling state and local budgets.

WASHINGTON—The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a 

Last week, Deloitte released a midyear update of its 2020 Engineering & Construction Outlook, noting three distinctive trends the adjacent industries are seeing that will likely influence how work is done for years to come. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 23, 2020)—The Q2 2020 USG Corporation + United States Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (Index) plunged from 74 in Q1 to 56 in Q2.

WASHINGTON (June 24, 2020)—Demand for design services in May saw few signs of rebounding following a record drop in billings the month prior, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Gilbane Inc. announced that William J. Gilbane III, fifth generation family member and former senior vice president of the New York division of Gilbane Building Company, has been elected to Gilbane, Inc.'s board of directors.

WASHINGTON—Associated Builders and Contractors announced it is partnering with the United States Chamber of Commerce on a national initiative to address inequality of opportunity.

San Francisco Bay Area-based construction information manager BarkerBlue Inc., recently announced the promotion of Mike Carlson to director of sales of BarkerBlue Build.

Carlson first joined BarkerBlue in 2013, bringing past sales experience in technology and litigation document support sales.

NATIONAL—President Trump and his administration are working on an infrastructure proposal worth almost $1 trillion aimed at giving the volatile United States economy a much-needed boost. 

The existing infrastructure plan—the FAST Act—which authorized $305 billion over a 5-year term, will expire at the end of September.

LOS ANGELES (June 15, 2020) — AECOM announced the appointment of W. Troy Rudd to chief executive officer (CEO). Currently AECOM’s chief financial officer, Rudd will assume the role from Michael S. Burke, who previously announced his plans to retire.

New home construction in the United States showed a positive return in May—good news after several months of decreasing numbers due in part to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In particular, a rebound in permits for future home construction (up 14.4%) showed promise that the industry might be coming out of a slump. The statistic is often an indicator of future activity and the overall health of the economy.