Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu forecasts continued momentum for the construction sector next year but advised an overall “wait-and-see” approach based on leading and lagging indicators and economic uncertainties, according to a 2020 economic outlook published in Construction Executive magazine. Although ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator—a leading indicator that reflects projects under contract yet to be executed—climbed…
Construction
Dodge Momentum Index Increases in November
The Dodge Momentum Index moved 2.9% higher in November to 155.3 (2000=100) from the revised October reading of 150.9. 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…
Construction Contractors Less Confident in September
Leaders of the U.S. construction industry remained confident through September 2019 regarding near-term prospects for sales, staffing levels and profit margins, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Confidence Index released today. However, the level of optimism continues to dim. For the first time since January, fewer than 50% of contractors expect profit margins to…
Construction Monitor Data Now Available Through Bloomberg
Construction Monitor, a leader in real time building permit data in the United States and headquartered in Cedar City, Utah, announced that its data set is now available to Bloomberg Data License clients via the Bloomberg Enterprise Access Point. This offers an additional way for the financial industry to discover Construction Monitor data. Construction Monitor has been collecting, databasing…
Strengthening Contractor and Owner Relationships Drives Greater Success in Multi-Site Construction Programs
A new study from Dodge Data & Analytics, conducted in partnership with Sevan Multi-Site Solutions, explores critical success factors for multi-site projects, from the perspectives of both owners and contractors. Multi-site work is an often-overlooked area of the construction industry that represents a significant volume of work, whether through a series of small projects across hundreds of…
6 Ways You Can Improve Back-Office Efficiency In Your Construction Company
When you think of construction, you probably think of all the work that goes on in the field. It’s obviously more visible. While fieldwork is the revenue backbone of any construction business, it is easy to forget that back-office efficiency is also crucial for keeping projects moving along successfully. As companies continue to grow, back-office…
10 Types of Construction Technology That Will Shape the Industry in 2019
Construction technology is an increasingly important aspect of the future of construction. With the skilled labor shortage, stagnant productivity, and safety issues that plague the industry, it’s hard to stay ahead of these issues. Construction companies, universities, and technology companies are working hard to find solutions to these problems. Companies are finding ways to improve…
Construction Input Prices Plummet in June, Says ABC
Construction input prices decreased 1.3% on both a monthly and yearly basis in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. This is the first time in nearly three years that input prices have fallen on a year-over-year basis. Overall, nonresidential construction…
May Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 46 States Year Over Year, Says ABC
In May, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 46 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Three states (Michigan, South Dakota and Vermont) had no change, while only Hawaii increased, rising from 5% in May 2018…
Best Tips for Good Communication on the Job Site
Good communication on the job site can improve the project budget, schedule, and working relationships between contractors and subcontractors. However, it doesn’t always seem possible. While there are technological advances that improve communication, like phones and email, that’s not always where the problems lie. Take a look at why communication fails and how you can…
