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The latest data from the Dodge Construction Network has indicated a 6% total rise in construction starts to a seasonally-adjusted rate of $1.3 trillion for the month of August, following a 17% rise that was recorded in July thanks to gains in the multifamily and nonbuilding sectors. Nonresidential... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects' latest Architecture Billings Index for August has recorded a slight decrease to a score of 48.1 (any score above 50 indicates an increase), marking the eleventh month of consecutively flat figures for firms following a period of growth between 2021 and... View full entry
Construction input prices ticked up 1.5% in August, the first increase in six months, due to a surge in energy costs, according to a new Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released Thursday. — Construction Dive
These readings come as a shock as the flattening of costs suggested that inflation was cooling. According to a separate analysis from the Associated General Contractors of America, a major increase in diesel fuel costs in August drove the overall increase in materials prices. The producer price... View full entry
The August Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) reading dipped 6.5% to 178 from the revised July reading of 190.3. Over the month, the commercial component of the DMI fell 1.6%, and the institutional component saw a double-digit decline of 14.8%. The notable contraction in the institutional sector was... View full entry
New rental apartment construction in the United States is expected to top a 50-year high in 2023. According to a report by RentCafe, nearly 461,000 units are expected to be delivered across the U.S. this year, meaning that over the past three years, 1.2 million units will have been built and... View full entry
Scientific American has published an opinion piece by the publication’s editors, highlighting the role of building codes in saving “money and lives.” Citing the growing number of “multibillion-dollar disasters” striking the United States, the opinion piece makes the argument that... View full entry
National nonresidential construction spending saw a modest rise of 0.1% in July, according to a new analysis by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of U.S. Census Bureau data. When adjusted for seasonality on an annualized basis, nonresidential spending stood at $1.08 trillion, marking a... View full entry
The nationwide demand for labor is dulling, but construction still faces a shortage of workers. Construction counted 363,000 job openings at the end of July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a decrease of 23,000 jobs from June. — Construction Dive
As noted by the chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Anirban Basu, job openings, across all industries, are at the lowest level since March 2021, and the rate at which workers are quitting their jobs has returned to the pre-pandemic norm. The demand for construction... View full entry
As the industry struggles to staff jobsites, contractors have ramped up the pursuit of the next generation of builders with vigor.
[...] experienced construction professionals approaching the end of their time in construction can pass down the vital building knowledge they have to Gen Z workers entering the industry from different academic backgrounds.
— Construction Dive
As reported by Construction Dive, a new industry report has revealed that construction employers have increased outreach for young talent by 46% over the past year. In addition, applications to architecture, drafting, and construction management roles rose by more than 40% on the platform... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects has just released its Architecture Billings Index for the month of July, highlighting further stability in the demand for design services for the third month in a row. The index score was recorded at 50.0, indicating a flat figure (anything above 50.0 is... View full entry
Construction starts rose a total of 17% for July to a seasonally-adjusted rate of $1.2 trillion, according to the just-released report from Dodge Construction Network. The latest data also indicated a 7% year-to-date drop in total construction starts when compared to the July 2022 totals... View full entry
The latest Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data indicates that increasingly stable construction materials prices and recent supply chain improvements over the past few months may signal "positive... View full entry
Dodge Construction Network’s Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) fell by 0.9% in July to 193.4 from the revised June reading of 195.1. Last month, the commercial component remained relatively flat, declining only by 0.2%, and the institutional component fell 1.9%. Planning in all commercial sectors... View full entry
The report that we just released is showing spending for the year up 20%. So, we’ve obviously seen a much stronger first half of the year than was anticipated. And that’s reflected in the current projection for 2023 as a whole.
Since we’ve seen such a strong first half, the consensus is not for more acceleration in the second half. The consensus seems to be that strength is behind us and we’ll begin to moderate as we move into the second half of the year.
— Construction Dive
Baker predicts institutional construction will remain strong for the rest of this year, bolstered mainly by healthcare. Other sectors he expects to see a rebound include hospitality, K-12, and warehouses, albeit at a dampened pace for the third. He also mentions the new AIA Consensus Construction... View full entry
The Biden Administration has recently announced a new $90 million commitment in the form of competitive awards meant to help states and cities in their myriad attempts at mustering updated building codes into the country's patchwork response to climate change. The funds are being taken from the... View full entry
