flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator plummets in August; Contractor Confidence down

Market Data

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator plummets in August; Contractor Confidence down

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels all fell modestly in August.


By ABC | September 15, 2021
ABC Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index
Courtesy ABC

Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell sharply to 7.7 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 19 to Sep.1. The reading is down 0.8 months from July 2021 and down 0.3 months from August 2020.

 

 

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels all fell modestly in August but remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months.

 

 

“Both contractor backlog and confidence have begun to fade,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Higher materials prices and labor costs have conspired to put more projects on hold. In many instances, expanding costs have rendered projects infeasible.

“That said, it is still the case that contractors collectively anticipate sales, staffing levels and margins to rise over the next six months,” said Basu. “The expected pace of improvement has softened, however. With so much liquidity continuing to be injected into financial systems, investors have considerable sums to deploy in new investments. Real estate valuations and construction volumes benefit from such dynamics. Recent dips in commodity prices and more normal labor market functioning should help translate into slower cost escalations and rebounding backlog during the months ahead, ultimately reversing the backlog decline sustained in August.”

 

Related Stories

Market Data | Oct 19, 2021

Demand for design services continues to increase

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for September was 56.6.

Market Data | Oct 14, 2021

Climate-related risk could be a major headwind for real estate investment

A new trends report from PwC and ULI picks Nashville as the top metro for CRE prospects.

Market Data | Oct 14, 2021

Prices for construction materials continue to outstrip bid prices over 12 months

Construction officials renew push for immediate removal of tariffs on key construction materials.

Market Data | Oct 11, 2021

No decline in construction costs in sight

Construction cost gains are occurring at a time when nonresidential construction spending was down by 9.5 percent for the 12 months through July 2021.

Market Data | Oct 11, 2021

Nonresidential construction sector posts first job gain since March

Has yet to hit pre-pandemic levels amid supply chain disruptions and delays.

Market Data | Oct 4, 2021

Construction spending stalls between July and August

A decrease in nonresidential projects negates ongoing growth in residential work.

Market Data | Oct 1, 2021

Nonresidential construction spending dips in August

Spending declined on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories.

Market Data | Sep 29, 2021

One-third of metro areas lost construction jobs between August 2020 and 2021

Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, Mass. and San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif. top lists of metros with year-over-year employment increases.

Market Data | Sep 28, 2021

Design-Build projects should continue to take bigger shares of construction spending pie over next five years

FMI’s new study finds collaboration and creativity are major reasons why owners and AEC firms prefer this delivery method.

Market Data | Sep 22, 2021

Architecture billings continue to increase

The ABI score for August was 55.6, up from July’s score of 54.6.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021