There are a number of reports and outlets that help experts and executives keep their finger on the pulse of the construction industry. Curated by the Construction Dive staff, this page centralizes data from those resources and helps visualize it as a one-stop resource about construction industry spending, hiring, starts and billings. This construction industry data page is updated bimonthly.
Construction Spending
While often revised in subsequent months, construction spending figures each month from the U.S. Commerce Department examine the private and public construction sectors. Within the private sector, the report tracks single-family residential, multifamily residential and nonresidential.
Latest report: Feb. 3, 2020
Next release: Mar. 2, 2020
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Construction Spending
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Construction Jobs
The labor shortage has consistently been a major challenge for construction companies. Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases job gains or losses in the industry and divides the figures into residential and nonresidential sectors.
Latest report: Feb. 7, 2020
Next release: Mar. 6, 2020
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Construction starts
Projects are growing more complex every year, driving the values of new construction up. Dodge Data & Analytics measures the value of total U.S. construction starts each month, as well as the value of starts in nonresidential, residential and nonbuilding categories.
Latest report: Jan. 20, 2020
Next report: February 2020
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RLB Crane Index
Rider Levett Bucknall's Crane Index measures the number of cranes present in major North American markets each April and October – previously July and January. We're tracking construction activity in 10 of the largest U.S. cities RLB tracks as well as their combined crane count every six months.
Latest report: July 2019
Next report: April 2020
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Architecture Billings Index
The ABI, from the American Institute of Architects, serves as an indicator of future construction spending — with a lead time of about nine to 12 months — as design services lead to new commercial projects. Any mark above 50 on the ABI indicates an increase in billings.
Last Report: Jan. 22, 2020
Next Report: Feb. 19, 2020
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American Institute of Architects ABI December 2019: Year ends on a stronger note for architecture firms