Economy

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    Manufacturing slump hit nonresidential construction spending in December

    Expenditures on highway and street projects, the third largest subcategory, also tumbled 0.4% month to month to close the year, according to the latest Census Bureau data. 

    By • March 3, 2026
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    Tariffs drove construction input prices up to start 2026

    January’s cost increases amounted to a “blistering” annualized rate of 7.1% for nonresidential input prices, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. 

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
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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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    Construction starts growth masks underlying weakness

    If not for three energy megaprojects, groundbreaking activity would have been negative month to month to start 2026, per Dodge Construction Network.  

    By • Feb. 26, 2026
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    Project delays pushed construction stress up to start 2026

    The project stress index ticked up slightly in January but is still in a much healthier position than a year ago, according to ConstructConnect data.

    By • Feb. 20, 2026
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    Construction backlog hit 4-year low in January

    ABC members seem optimistic about their own prospects going forward, but close to half think their competitors will see sales drop over the next two quarters.

    By • Feb. 12, 2026
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    Construction planning fell 6.3% to kick off 2026

    Weakness in January showed up across most commercial and institutional project types, including warehouse, office and healthcare, per Dodge Construction Network.

    By • Feb. 10, 2026
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    Construction Dive’s December 2025 economic roundup

    The waters for construction’s future are clearer as data delayed by the late-2025 government shutdown begins to trickle in.

    By • Feb. 3, 2026
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    Tariffs lifted nonresidential construction costs 3.2% in 2025

    Trade policy will “continue to put upward pressure on certain materials” this year, said Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
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    Opinion

    Why contractors should hire builders who can sell

    A good business development manager can be a game changer for contractors, writes consultant Matt Verderamo, and training a builder to sell is easier than teaching construction expertise.

    By Matt Verderamo • Jan. 29, 2026
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Construction starts ended 2025 on an upswing

    Infrastructure projects, alongside data centers, drove much of the groundbreaking growth in December and across 2025.

    By • Jan. 27, 2026
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    After years of stability, construction materials costs are heating up again

    Copper and electrical components posted the sharpest gains to end the year, according to consulting firm Gordian, but steel prices were more stable.

    By • Jan. 23, 2026
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    Construction project stress cools after ‘turbulent year’

    The improvement in delays, abandonments and on-hold projects caused the Project Stress Index to reach one of the lowest levels in 2025, according to ConstructConnect.

    By • Jan. 16, 2026
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Tariffs push construction input prices higher

    The latest PPI report presents “plenty of cause for concern,” according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By • Jan. 14, 2026
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    Data centers drive lopsided backlog gains

    The AI frenzy is mostly confined to big contractors’ pipelines, with smaller firms seeing fewer benefits from the boom.

    By • Jan. 13, 2026
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    Q&A

    Why construction M&A activity is likely to continue in 2026

    Tariffs and new tax laws have given foreign-based engineering firms incentive to establish a beachhead within the U.S. to lower costs, according to an attorney. 

    By • Jan. 12, 2026
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    Construction planning jumped 7% to close 2025 strong

    On top of the monthly gain in December, the Dodge Momentum Index finished the year 37% higher compared to 2024.

    By • Jan. 9, 2026
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Construction job openings bounce back

    The number of available positions grew by 90,000 in November following an “extraordinarily low level” in October, according to the latest federal data.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
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    US plans fresh China semiconductor tariffs for 2027

    The duty rate will be set at least 30 days before the implementation date and stack on top of existing levies, per a Federal Register filing.

    By Phil Neuffer • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Courtesy of Los Angeles World Airports
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    Construction starts tumbled 20.5% amid megaproject pullback

    Only two projects over $1 billion broke ground in November, according to Dodge Construction Network, but second half momentum was still robust.

    By • Dec. 23, 2025
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    Minneapolis Fed survey: Nonresidential builders face tighter pipelines, rising costs

    “Uncertainty isn’t going away quickly,” an official said, but data centers and healthcare projects are providing a lifeline.

    By Keith Loria • Dec. 18, 2025
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    Construction backlog slips as smaller contractors feel the squeeze

    Builders’ pipelines now sit at their lowest level since February 2024, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Construction adds 28,000 jobs in November

    Hiring gains in nonresidential construction improved as other parts of the labor market lost momentum.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Fed’s rate cut boosts existing construction projects, more needed to spur new builds

    The central bank’s 25-basis-point cut adds to a steady easing cycle, but contractors say it’s unlikely to stimulate a surge in new nonresidential construction starts.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
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    Inflation holds steady, bolstering case for Fed benchmark rate cut

    Most Fed watchers and futures traders expect the Federal Reserve will trim the federal funds rate by a quarter point to a range of 3.5% to 3.75% on Dec. 10.

    By Jim Tyson • Dec. 9, 2025
  • Workers are seen on the construction site of the Second Avenue Subway station
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Tariffs drive surge in construction project stress

    As companies deplete their pre-Liberation Day stockpiles, rising construction costs are pushing owners and developers to cancel builds, according to ConstructConnect. 

    By • Dec. 8, 2025