Economy

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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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    Labor

    A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

    By Construction Dive staff
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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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    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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    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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    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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    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
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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
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    Construction planning falls again, but data center boom continues

    Megaprojects are boosting the building pipeline as overall momentum dipped for a second consecutive month, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Companies cut 32,000 from payrolls as Fed debates trimming main rate: ADP

    Futures traders have increased the odds that the Federal Reserve on Dec. 10 will cut borrowing costs to 89% from 83.4.% last week.

    By Jim Tyson • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Construction costs climb for 5th straight month

    Rising materials prices are keeping procurement unpredictable for contractors, said Macrina Wilkins, senior research analyst at Associated General Contractors of America.

    By • Dec. 1, 2025
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    With flat revenues and increasing costs, more cities are tightening their belts

    Fiscal confidence among city finance officers is plunging as COVID-era federal aid winds down, a National League of Cities survey found.

    By Ryan Kushner • Nov. 25, 2025
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    Federal shutdown pushed construction project stress higher

    Public project abandonments surged during the government closure in October, though November’s reopening could ease some pressure.

    By • Nov. 24, 2025
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    Construction starts surge 21%, led by multibillion-dollar projects

    Megaproject construction, including data center and manufacturing work, boosted overall groundbreakings in October, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025