Economy
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Balfour Beatty predicts growth in year-end update
The London-based builder projects a bump in revenue and backlog even as it said it faced delays in a number of its U.S. projects in the second half of 2024.
By Matthew Thibault • Dec. 6, 2024 -
Trump vows new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China
The countries are the top suppliers of imported goods to the U.S., and construction economists have concerns about the impact on material prices.
By Jennifer Goodman • Nov. 26, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Construction Dive
Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.
By Construction Dive staff -
Public construction firms’ executives react to Trump win
Noting the prospect of lower taxes and fewer permitting hurdles, construction company leaders were mainly optimistic in the wake of the presidential election.
By Joe Bousquin • Nov. 25, 2024 -
Economic Reports
The 9 largest commercial construction starts of October 2024
Total groundbreakings jumped 4% after a brief slowdown the prior month, according to Dodge Construction Network.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Tariff concerns loom over construction input prices
Potential trade policy changes under the incoming Trump administration could raise costs for a wide range of materials, economists say.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Project abandonments, delays slow on interest rate cut
Private sector activity appears to be responding to the Fed's recent actions faster than publicly funded jobs.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Rate cut boosts optimism despite construction backlog dip
Builders feel upbeat about a pickup in activity over the next two quarters, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Q&A
Infrastructure funds will continue to flow: PCL CEO
Chris Gower said one of the firm’s top priorities is to adapt to changes coming from a second Trump term.
By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 11, 2024 -
Fed’s second rate cut this year raises hopes for commercial construction
The central bank aims to foster a more supportive lending environment, an encouraging sign for building activity.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Skanska bullish on US work amid upcoming White House changes
The Swedish firm reported strong construction performance in the States and said it anticipates that to persist.
By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Election 2024
Trump win elicits optimism, concern among contractors
Though construction employer groups mostly praised the outcome, labor associations are troubled about a second Trump term.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 7, 2024 -
October 2024 economic roundup
Construction Dive tracks recent key industry data such as backlog, planning activity, input costs, starts, job openings and spending.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 6, 2024 -
MasTec reports increased profits on flat revenues, higher backlog
Delayed starts on large projects in the Florida firm’s Clean Business unit, which includes solar and wind installations, contributed to its overall sales plateau.
By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 6, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Infrastructure boosts nonresidential spending again as private sector slows
Federal funding is buoying overall construction activity, but projects outside the public realm could soon rebound, economists said.
By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 4, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Construction job openings fall post-Helene
Economists say the hurricane temporarily suppressed the number of open construction positions across the Southeast at the end of September.
By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 30, 2024 -
Economic Reports
The 9 largest commercial construction starts of September 2024
Total groundbreakings dipped 6% to kick off the fall, according to Dodge Construction Network.
By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 22, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Construction backlog rebounds in wake of rate cut
After briefly falling at the end of the summer, the amount of work on builders’ books rose again following the Fed’s loosening last month.
By Joe Bousquin • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Election 2024
Where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on construction’s top issues
Here are Kamala Harris’ and Donald Trump’s views on the industry’s most pressing topics, including immigration, permitting, infrastructure and more.
By Construction Dive Staff • Oct. 16, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Construction input prices tick down on lower energy costs
The decline reflects overall stabilization over the past 12 months, as material expenses remain 1.9% lower than a year ago.
By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 14, 2024 -
Economic Reports
US crane count holds steady in Q3
American and Canadian cities saw 15 fewer total cranes in the third quarter of 2024 than in the first, but construction activity remains robust.
By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Planning activity softens after months of growth
Slowdowns in office, warehouse and retail projects drove much of September’s decline, but overall activity is still up for the year.
By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 8, 2024 -
Opinion
9 year-end tax tips for general contractors
Company leaders should take time to review the tax implications of their business and operations now, writes a CPA focused on construction.
By Anita Mahamed • Oct. 8, 2024 -
Economic indicators: August 2024
Construction Dive rounds up key industry data such as backlog, planning activity, input costs, starts and spending.
By Construction Dive Staff • Oct. 8, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Project abandonments drop amid contractor optimism
Both private and public sectors appear to be benefitting from falling interest rates and a positive outlook, according to a construction economist.
By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 3, 2024 -
Economic Reports
Construction job openings leap monthly by record amount
After several months of cooling, which experts speculate was mostly confined to the residential sector, unfilled positions increased by 138,000 in August.
By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 2, 2024