Associated Builders and Contractors' Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 9.2 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 21 to Dec. 6. The reading is 0.8 months higher than in November 2021.
The CBI is now at its highest level since the second quarter of 2019. The increase in backlog observed in November is largely attributed to contractors with under $30 million in revenue, which now have their highest level of backlog in over three years.
“The rise in backlog is remarkable and unexpected,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “A number of contractors have been reporting that their backlog has risen rapidly over the past three months, which is counterintuitive given the pervasive view that the broader economy is headed into recession.
“The improvement in backlog was particularly sharp in the commercial and institutional category, and health care-related construction has emerged as a major driver of new activity,” added Basu. “While it seems unlikely that backlog will hold up in the face of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to slow demand, many predicted that backlog would have dipped by now and that has yet to transpire. What’s more, many contractors expect sales and staffing levels to climb over the next six months, while profit margins are projected to remain stable.”
Related Stories
Market Data | Apr 6, 2017
Architecture marketing: 5 tools to measure success
We’ve identified five architecture marketing tools that will help your firm evaluate if it’s on the track to more leads, higher growth, and broader brand visibility.
Market Data | Apr 3, 2017
Public nonresidential construction spending rebounds; overall spending unchanged in February
The segment totaled $701.9 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate for the month, marking the seventh consecutive month in which nonresidential spending sat above the $700 billion threshold.
Market Data | Mar 29, 2017
Contractor confidence ends 2016 down but still in positive territory
Although all three diffusion indices in the survey fell by more than five points they remain well above the threshold of 50, which signals that construction activity will continue to be one of the few significant drivers of economic growth.
Market Data | Mar 24, 2017
These are the most and least innovative states for 2017
Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland are all in the top 10 most innovative states, but none of them were able to claim the number one spot.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2017
After a strong year, construction industry anxious about Washington’s proposed policy shifts
Impacts on labor and materials costs at issue, according to latest JLL report.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2017
Architecture Billings Index rebounds into positive territory
Business conditions projected to solidify moving into the spring and summer.
Market Data | Mar 15, 2017
ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator fell to end 2016
Contractors in each segment surveyed all saw lower backlog during the fourth quarter, with firms in the heavy industrial segment experiencing the largest drop.
Market Data | Feb 28, 2017
Leopardo’s 2017 Construction Economics Report shows year-over-year construction spending increase of 4.2%
The pace of growth was slower than in 2015, however.
Market Data | Feb 23, 2017
Entering 2017, architecture billings slip modestly
Despite minor slowdown in overall billings, commercial/ industrial and institutional sectors post strongest gains in over 12 months.
Market Data | Feb 16, 2017
How does your hospital stack up? Grumman/Butkus Associates 2016 Hospital Benchmarking Survey
Report examines electricity, fossil fuel, water/sewer, and carbon footprint.