HAMILTON, N.J. (Nov. 17, 2021) — Total construction starts pushed 16% higher in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.01 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts gained 29% and nonbuilding moved 52% higher in October, while residential starts lost 8%. The month’s large gains resulted from the start of three large projects: two massive manufacturing plants and an LNG export facility.

FAIRFAX, Va. (Nov. 16, 2021) —  In a well-attended White House ceremony, President Joe Biden signed into law on Nov. 15 the historic core infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, or H.R. 3684). Once fully implemented over the next several years, this legislation will deliver a historic amount of added resources to the American utility construction industry.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Oct.

ARLINGTON, Va. (Nov. 10, 2021) — Rising construction materials prices appear to be starting to drive up the price of construction projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) of government data. Association officials noted that despite a big jump in what contractors charge for projects, the rise in materials prices is still much higher.

WASHINGTON (Nov. 9, 2021) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and its Alabama chapter has filed a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 11th Circuit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for its COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which applies to employers with 100 or more employees.

WASHINGTON (Nov. 9, 2021) —  Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in October, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2. The reading is up 0.5 months from September 2021 and 0.4 months from October 2020.