Construction backlog rebounded in August as more firms won data centers

“Data centers continue to keep contractors busy even as activity softens in other segments,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 16, 2026

Fluctuating material costs are rewriting who wins the bid

Material costs are outpacing bids. Speed is the new edge.

By Shiva Dhawan, Co-founder and CEO, Attentive.ai • Sept. 14, 2026

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Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

By Construction Dive staff

Cost spikes hit bevy of construction materials

Prices for copper, lumber, switchgear and several derivative metal products posted 10% or more increases year over year since August 2025, said Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 11, 2026

Data center planning cooled in August as other sectors gained ground

Most other sectors posted an acceleration in momentum amid a weaker data center planning environment, according to Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 9, 2026

Construction costs have moderated, but apartment development remains challenging

Multifamily firms are mixed on whether greater contractor competition and more stable materials prices have opened up opportunities in new markets.

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 8, 2026

Data centers drove all nonresidential construction spending growth in July

Not counting data centers, nonresidential construction spending fell to its lowest level since September 2023, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 2, 2026

Warsh pledges to slow inflation to 2%, saying Fed may have ‘work to do’

The comments by Warsh prompted futures traders to increase the odds that policymakers next month will push up the main interest rate.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 31, 2026

Inflation holds steady, giving Fed room to leave main rate unchanged

Despite an increase in disposable income, personal consumption expenditures rose just 0.2% last month compared with a 0.4% gain in June.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 27, 2026

Canada to install retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on US imports

The levies will go into effect Sept. 8 and match the rates of U.S. tariffs on goods such as steel, dairy products, appliances and agricultural equipment.

By Phil Neuffer • Updated Aug. 27, 2026

Surge in July construction starts reflected megaproject volatility: Dodge

A 25.6% gain in kickoffs last month followed a plunge in June. Dodge said the trend points to “a disjointed construction market.”

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 21, 2026

Many Fed officials flagged inflation threat, possible need to hike rates

“Recent labor demand and consumer spending data suggest that the economy is healthy enough for a rate hike,” Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 20, 2026

Trump imposes 100% tariffs on some drones and components

The UAS duty rates align with the president’s executive orders to mitigate supply chain reliance on countries such as China, which has a world-leading drone market valued at $15.6 billion in 2025.

By Sara Samora • Aug. 18, 2026

Construction costs rose 7.4% annually in July

Contractors will still face additional input price jumps in the months ahead, especially as fuel and other materials prices swell, according to economists.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 14, 2026

‘Historic’ labor market shrinkage highlights need for AI: Economist

A pullback from employment by workers age 65 and older may partly allay concerns that demand for artificial intelligence will fall short of a coming surge in supply, per economist Joe Brusuelas.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 12, 2026

Data centers lifted July’s construction planning momentum

After a brief brake tap in June, data centers elevated construction planning on both a monthly and annual basis, according to the Dodge Momentum Index.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 10, 2026

Construction job openings rose in June as contractors felt staffing woes

For the third straight month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported higher year-over-year job vacancies. Paired with other recent data, that may not mean higher project demand.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 4, 2026

Construction spending dropped 3.2% in June

Excluding data centers, private nonresidential construction spending was down 7.9% year over year in June, according to ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 4, 2026

Construction’s warning lights are blinking. Most firms aren’t looking at the dashboard.

Climbing interest rates and high inflation have resulted in slowing demand despite the data center boom, writes a construction accountant. 

By Chris Coleman • Aug. 3, 2026

Turner’s cost benchmark surged 5.2% in Q2

The annual increase compared to a 1.4% jump quarter over quarter. Rising demand for skilled labor continues to drive inputs, the contractor said.

By Joe Bousquin • July 29, 2026

Fed holds benchmark rate steady in vote with three dissents

The central bank held the main interest rate steady in a 9-3 vote after a two-day meeting.

By Grace Noto • July 29, 2026

Groundbreakings cooled in June after megaproject boom eased

Construction starts “came back down to earth” after strong activity in May, said Sarah Martin, director of economic research at Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • July 23, 2026

Canada tariffs put pressure on concrete, cement prices

A 50% tariff can scuttle previous estimates and increase the risk of disputes, said one attorney.

By Sebastian Obando • July 22, 2026

US slaps 50% tariffs on many Canada imports

The Section 338 duties apply to a wide variety of products — even if they qualify for duty-free treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

By Antone Gonsalves • Updated July 21, 2026

Skanska reports record $7B order intake for Q2

CFO Pontus Winqvist remained measured in the face of a robust backlog as well as economic hurdles, telling Construction Dive, “you can’t build a trend on one quarter.”

By Zachary Phillips • July 17, 2026

Construction costs dropped in June, will likely tick up again

A brief respite in fuel prices caused construction input costs to drop in June. But the recent escalation in the Iran war will likely drive them back higher, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

By Sebastian Obando • July 16, 2026