Economy


  • Construction continues on the ballroom extension at the White House.
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    Samuel Corum/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Data centers, infrastructure prop up construction backlog

    Public works and digital infrastructure sustained pipelines as private projects lost momentum over the past year, according to ABC’s backlog report.

    By Oct. 15, 2025
  • Construction workers prepare the duct bank for installation.
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    Courtesy of UM Shore Regional Health
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    Data centers, healthcare keep construction planning on track

    Early-stage activity climbed again, a signal for stronger groundbreakings next year, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By Oct. 8, 2025
  • AGC image library construction worker with steel Explore the Trendline
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    Permission granted by Associated General Contractors of America
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    Trendline

    Labor

    A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

    By Construction Dive staff
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    Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Amid tariff, job and supply concerns, multifamily pros prioritize occupancy

    After seeing rents decline for the first summer in 15 years, apartment operators are hesitant to raise prices heading into the colder months.

    By Leslie Shaver • Oct. 2, 2025
  • Three construction workers talk under a crane on a jobsite's roof.
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    Getty Images
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    Crane count drops 44% across North American cities

    Major markets showed fewer of the hallmarks of building activity for the second consecutive report, according to Rider Levett Bucknall.

    By Oct. 1, 2025
  • A crowd of people in business and business-casual clothes wander around an open space filled with booths for companies that represent construction technology firms.
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    Matthew Thibault/Construction Dive
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    2026’s top construction conferences

    It’s time to plan for the year to come. Construction Dive has you covered with a full list of the industry conferences and expos on tap for 2026.

    By Oct. 1, 2025
  • People walk by a kitchen cabinet display at an Ikea store on Sept. 26, 2025, in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    US to begin furniture, wood import tariffs on Oct. 14

    An executive order from President Donald Trump installs a 25% tariff on couch, sofa, chair and kitchen cabinet imports and a 10% duty on timber and lumber.

    By Philip Neuffer • Sept. 30, 2025
  • Construction workers prepare the site of the UM Shore Medical Center
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    Courtesy of UM Shore Regional Health
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    Economic Reports

    The 9 largest commercial construction starts of August 2025

    The pace of groundbreaking growth is beginning to level off, according to Dodge Construction Network.

    By Sept. 23, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Private construction steadies, but public abandonments jump

    Despite relief in the commercial sector, the Project Stress Index remains higher than a year ago, and projects funded with government money took a worrisome turn.

    By Sept. 19, 2025
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    Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Contractors welcome rate cut, push for more

    Firms said the quarter-point reduction will provide a meaningful confidence boost, especially for private projects, though likely won’t boom construction activity.

    By Sept. 17, 2025
  • An aerial view of construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Backlog slips as small construction firms lose ground

    Labor issues and material costs cut into project pipelines for contractors with under $30 million in revenue.

    By Sept. 17, 2025
  • Construction workers are seen as they work with steel rebar during construction
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    Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    ‘There is a limit’: Rising materials costs test construction’s breaking point

    Prices for steel, aluminum and other key inputs “rose at an especially rapid pace,” said ABC chief economist.

    By Sept. 11, 2025
  • Aerial view of data centers in Ashburn, Virginia.
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    Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction planning booms, up 51% in 12 months

    The Dodge Momentum Index points to “stronger construction activity in late 2026 or early 2027,” said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network.

    By Sept. 10, 2025
  • An aerial view shows construction underway at The Barack Obama Presidential Center
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction Dive’s August 2025 economic roundup

    Material price escalation and labor issues overshadow an otherwise resilient construction pipeline.

    By Sept. 9, 2025
  • Construction workers on the Barack Obama Presidential Center site
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction spending slide deepens

    “It may be a bleak second half of the year for the construction industry,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.

    By Sept. 3, 2025
  • Rendering of the proposed Las Vegas baseball stadium
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    Courtesy of MLB
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    Economic Reports

    The 8 largest commercial construction starts of July 2025

    Overall groundbreakings “reversed course in July, offsetting the strong gains made in June,” said the chief economist at Dodge Construction Network.

    By Aug. 22, 2025
  • A large structure crosses a canal on a bright day. Boats, trees and blue water surround the construction.
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    Courtesy of HS2
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    Balfour Beatty profits rise, but US arm struggles

    The contractor's U.K. construction segment hit its 3% margin target in the first half of 2025, but its U.S. business languished due to issues at a Texas infrastructure project.

    By Aug. 15, 2025
  • Man carries copper pipes
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    Spencer Platt/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Latest Producer Price Index report offers little relief

    Domestic producers are “raising prices in line with the protection tariffs are providing them,” said a construction economist, a move that could further stoke inflation.

    By Aug. 15, 2025
  • The Federal Reserve building under construction
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Data centers, public works boost backlog, but confidence cracks

    About four in five ABC members reported higher material price notices, a factor that cut into contractors’ optimism around sales and profits, according to ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

    By Aug. 13, 2025
  • A Caterpillar backhoe sits on a trailer
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction stress eases, but contractors remain cautious

    Abandonments and delays eased in July, though a “volatile economic environment” lingers, according to ConstructConnect.

    By Aug. 12, 2025
  • A distribution warehouse under construction
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    Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Wave of projects lifts construction planning to record high

    Notable strength in data center and warehouse activity accounted for the growth as developers absorb tariff-related cost increases, according to Dodge Construction Network. 

    By Aug. 11, 2025
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a presentation in the Oval Office of the White House on Aug. 6, 2025, in Washington D.C.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Trump plans 100% tariffs for semiconductor imports

    Chips are one of several product types currently under Section 232 investigation by the White House, a frequent precursor to duties.

    By Philip Neuffer • Aug. 7, 2025
  • The United States flag and the Virginia state flag are shown in front of monopile foundations being delivered to a port in Virginia.
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    Courtesy of Dominion Energy
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    Dominion’s offshore wind project sees slight price hike from tariffs, CEO says

    The added expenses will increase customer bills by an average of three cents a month over the entire life of the project, said Bob Blue, Dominion’s president, CEO and chairman.

    By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 5, 2025
  • Construction workers finish concrete
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Construction Dive’s July 2025 economic roundup

    The data center boom remains hot but tariffs and labor concerns are casting doubt over the construction outlook.

    By Aug. 5, 2025
  • condo buildings under construction in the downtown Miami
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    Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Economic Reports

    Nonresidential construction spending slips for sixth time in seven months

    AGC officials pointed to ongoing tariff and labor uncertainty as the reason many construction owners may be pulling back on planned projects.

    By Aug. 4, 2025
  • A box with a Black & Decker tool and a Stanley tool.
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    (Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) via Getty Images
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    Stanley Black & Decker to raise prices again, navigate $800M tariff impact

    The world’s largest toolmaker is continuing to tweak its supply chain configurations and move forward with its cost reduction program to improve profitability.

    By Nathan Owens • July 31, 2025