Economy

  • Aerial view of data centers under construction in Leesburg, Va.
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning climbs again on core sector momentum

    Warehouse, healthcare and tech projects drove the majority of growth in June amid pockets of softness elsewhere, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By • July 10, 2025
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    Tariff fallout leads to layoffs at Massachusetts concrete firm

    Contract delays tied to material price volatility forced 233 job cuts at Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based Unistress and its subsidiary.

    By • July 9, 2025
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    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
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    supermatros via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction Dive’s June 2025 economic roundup

    Higher material costs and weaker spending suggest growing pressure across the construction industry.

    By • July 8, 2025
  • A construction worker swinging a sledgehammer during a sunny day.
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    Mark Makela/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Hiring rate, job openings remain historically low

    Though contractors are optimistic in the face of a subdued labor market, it’s not yet clear how President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have affected the data.

    By • July 2, 2025
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    Alexander Farnsworth via Getty Images
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    Yale pauses 10 projects as funding worries grow

    Several universities are reassessing their capital plans due to rising costs and uncertain federal support.

    By • June 30, 2025
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    JuliaMag via Getty Images
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    Office conversions accelerate, but many older buildings face demolition: reports

    High vacancy rates have driven building owners to repurpose space, which should help the U.S. office market’s recovery. But high costs and incompatible structural designs remain challenges, CBRE says.

    By Joe Burns • June 27, 2025
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    Courtesy of University of Kentucky
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    Economic Reports

    The 9 largest commercial construction starts of May 2025

    A bounceback in activity offered some relief for contractors, but momentum may be tempered by tariffs and economic uncertainty, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By • June 23, 2025
  • Aerial view of Northern Virginia data centers.
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    Gerville via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction costs jump at a 6% annualized rate

    Spikes in iron, steel, copper and aluminum prices in May largely offset declines in energy, according to the latest Producer Price Index data.

    By • June 16, 2025
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    Courtesy of Micron Technology
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    Micron expands US manufacturing commitment to $200B

    The increased investment, which includes another $30 billion in expanded production and a second Idaho fab, comes as the Trump administration finalizes $275 million in CHIPS funding for the company.

    By Kate Magill • June 13, 2025
  • Construction site with cone yard sign, high-rise hotels, office building, skyscraper structure, working cranes, lower floor precast concrete wall in downtown Irving, Texas, commercial real estate
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    TrongNguyen via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction backlog slips from 2-year high

    Tariff-related project delays and cancellations caused contractors’ pipelines to ease off a recent peak, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By • June 12, 2025
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    Courtesy of Sterling Bay
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    Economic Reports

    Warehouse, hotel construction lift commercial planning

    Despite slower data center activity last month, the nonresidential pipeline grew 24% over 2024’s level.

    By • June 11, 2025
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    Colleen Michaels via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Private project abandonments hit record highs

    A spike in scrapped jobs drove the sharpest rise in construction stress in over a year as developer confidence erodes, according to ConstructConnect.

    By • June 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of Ferrovial
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    Q&A

    Infrastructure is a solid bet: Ferrovial exec

    Urbanization and population growth are driving demand for transportation, data centers and energy, says Silvia Ruiz, the contractor’s global head of investor relations.

    By • June 9, 2025
  • The Ray Phoenix multifamily building in Phoenix, Ariz.
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    Courtesy of Clayco
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    Q&A

    Clayco CEO sees cautious clients, smarter investments

    Anthony Johnson talks with Construction Dive about the firm’s outlook for the second half of 2025, cost pressures and overall uncertainty in the construction industry.

    By • June 6, 2025
  • A worker helps build a support column using steel rebar in Miami, Fla.
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    Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    New steel, aluminum tariffs will push construction costs higher

    Fresh 50% duties on the critical building materials will inflate prices across a range of commercial projects, according to panelists at a recent webinar hosted by Skanska.

    By • June 5, 2025
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    csfotoimages via Getty Images
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    Apartment developers gear up for tariffs

    Firms are dusting off their playbooks from the first Trump administration, which recommend ordering parts early and sourcing from different companies.

    By Leslie Shaver • June 5, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Private construction pullback drags down overall spending

    Nearly 22% of contractors have reported project delays or cancellations due to tariff-related impacts, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By • June 3, 2025
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    Sponsored by American Global

    Guaranteed cost vs. loss-sensitive plans: How the experience modifier impacts construction insurance cost

    Control costs and stay competitive. Understand how Ex Mod functions in different insurance programs.

    By Nitsel Mendez, Senior Vice President • June 2, 2025
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    SweetBunFactory via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    IRA tax credits spur construction, manufacturing in red and blue states

    Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act could slow our ability to build more power generation and increase the risk of rolling blackouts and higher energy costs.

    By Emmanuel Martin-Lauzer • May 30, 2025
  • A rendering shows a busy streetscape in front of the future Etihad Park stadium in Willets Park, Queens.
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    Courtesy of Turner Construction
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    The top commercial contractors of 2025

    Turner maintained the No. 1 spot for another year, Bechtel reclaimed second place and HITT made its top 10 debut after a huge revenue boost.

    By • May 29, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    It’s not too late to offset tariffs on existing jobs

    Though increased costs seem inevitable, there are steps owners can take to mitigate potential impacts, even on current projects, write two attorneys.

    By Stacy Bercun Bohm and Trav Clark • May 28, 2025
  • Aerial view of rooftops in a suburban neighborhood. A street curves through the houses.
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    Haizhan Zheng via Getty Images
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    The top 10 home builders of 2025

    SH Residential Holdings — the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese home builder Sekisui House — moved from No. 20 to No. 6 this year following its acquisition of M.D.C. Holdings.

    By Mary Salmonsen • May 28, 2025
  • Workers install a temporary bridge along the east side of Tonelle Avenue in New York City.
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    Courtesy of Gateway Development Commission
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    Economic Reports

    The 9 largest commercial construction starts of April 2025

    Economic uncertainty and April’s tariff announcements caused groundbreakings to drop sharply, according to a new report from Dodge Construction Network.

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Heavy machinery and workers working on the construction of a new viaduct along the north of downtown Miami
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    CHUYN via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Private delays, abandonments drive project stress higher

    Over the past 12 months, non-public developments placed on hold jumped 40%, while abandonments increased 14.1%, according to ConstructConnect.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • Construction workers work on a shopping center amid scaffolding.
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    Scott Barbour via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction costs dip, but tariffs hike some materials’ prices

    Inputs declined overall in April due to falling energy prices, but steel and copper rose significantly while nonresidential costs continued their upward march.

    By • May 16, 2025