Groundbreak Carolinas

GroundBreak Carolinas

Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas

Brian Gallagher

Tariffs and the Transformation of Construction Financing and Delivery

by Brian Gallagher on

Rising Tariffs Reshape Project Economics and Delivery Strategies Surging material costs, driven in part by ongoing U.S. trade policies and global economic dynamics, are forcing a fundamental reassessment of how construction projects are financed, structured, and delivered. These changes are especially evident in industrial and manufacturing sectors, where material-intensive builds are disproportionately affected by volatility…

Optimism and Opportunity: SCEDA’s 2025 Conference Highlights South Carolina’s Economic Momentum Amid Uncertainty

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

Economic developers, business leaders, and policymakers gathered this week in Myrtle Beach for the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA) Annual Conference, held May 14–16 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The event served as a platform to celebrate the state’s economic achievements and to discuss strategies for navigating the evolving economic landscape. A Positive Economic Outlook…

Construction Materials Prices Tame in April Despite Rising Iron and Steel Costs

by Associated Builders and Contractors on

Construction input prices decreased 0.1% in April 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 today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.2% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 0.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction…

Despite Tariff Impacts, ABC Contractors’ Backlog and Profit Margin Expectations Improve in April

by Associated Builders and Contractors on

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to a 20-month high of 8.7 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted April 22 to May 6. The reading is up 0.3 months since April 2024. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog has…

2025 GroundBreakers: Who is Influencing the Industry? Submit your Nomination

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

People make the construction industry what it is today. The GroundBreak Carolinas team is interested in identifying and featuring those individuals who are influencing construction and having a significant impact on the industry. We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 7th annual GroundBreak Carolinas “Most Influential in North Carolina…

Better Design Build; Perspectives on Tariffs and the Economy

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

The Key to Better Integrated Design-Build With compressed schedule, workforce challenges, and supply chain disruptions, owners are looking for certainty in project delivery. Dan Crist, president of ABC member company, A M King, shares his insights on the keys to better integrated design-build. Read More Tariffs and Cost Increases: Are You Prepared? Tariffs in the…

Trump’s Tariffs; Nonresidential Construction Spending Soars

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

Dr. Yandle: Will Mr. Trump’s Tariffs Bring a Trade War or America’s Golden Age? On April 2, 2025, President Trump made good on his promise to initiate a massif round of tariffs increases to be immediately imposed by United States on nations worldwide. The new tariffs carry a 10% baseline to be charged all countries and higher…

Focus on the Clients for Success

by Mark Zweig on

Firms with owners who really understand how powerful this idea is don’t do things like all the other firms in our business. It’s been said there is no reason for any business to exist without filling a want or need of a client or customer. AEC firms are no exception. They have to meet the…

March Construction Employment Up Just 1.8% Year Over Year

by Associated Builders and Contractors on

The construction industry added 13,000 jobs on net in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has risen by a mere 143,000 jobs, an increase of 1.8%.  Nonresidential construction employment increased by 22,300 positions on net…

2025 CIRT Sentiment Index: First Quarter

by FMI on

The first quarter 2025 CIRT Sentiment Index increased to 67.9 from 64.1 in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, the outlook isn’t as positive among those focused solely on design, with the Design Index falling to 61.8 from 71.1.  The last time the Design Index and Sentiment Index diverged this significantly was during the economic…