Construction hiring data indicates a cooling labor market

Slow hiring and few job separations in February led to the lowest construction labor turnover rate since 2000, according to Anirban Basu, chief economist at ABC.

By Zachary Phillips • April 1, 2026

Data center boom failed to lift construction spending to start 2026

The lackluster spending report is “especially concerning in light of the ongoing conflict in Iran,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist.  

By Sebastian Obando • March 24, 2026

Explore the 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

Construction starts plunged 13% as megaprojects faded

Nonresidential starts rebounded in February but the absence of massive energy-related projects slowed total groundbreakings, according to Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • March 24, 2026

Construction prices spiked at ‘staggering’ rate to begin 2026

The latest data — prior to the war in Iran — shows prices rose on an annualized basis of 12.6% through February. 

By Joe Bousquin • March 19, 2026

Fed holds rates steady, flags uncertainty as oil price soars amid war

The Fed faces a policy dilemma as the Iran war spurs a jump in energy prices, threatening to increase inflation, slow economic growth and push up unemployment.

By Jim Tyson • March 19, 2026

Trump’s temporary 10% tariff faces further legal scrutiny

Two businesses say the president is unlawfully leveraging the Section 122 statute, echoing similar arguments from a case filed by a cohort of states days earlier.

By Phil Neuffer • March 16, 2026

AI, highway bill dominate builders’ focus

In the most recent earnings calls and financial reports, contractors focused on the frenzy around data center construction and potentially higher transportation funding. 

By Joe Bousquin • March 16, 2026

Monthly construction planning slipped again in February

Increased costs and geopolitical risk strained builder confidence in the near term, said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • March 11, 2026

Economy unexpectedly sheds 92,000 jobs as war spurs inflation worries

Construction lost 11,000 net jobs month to month in February, but saw an increase of 0.5% year over year.

By Jim Tyson • March 9, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • March 3, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 27, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 26, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 20, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 12, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 10, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Feb. 3, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Jan. 30, 2026

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

Construction starts ended 2025 on an upswing

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

By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 27, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Jan. 23, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Jan. 16, 2026

Tariffs push construction input prices higher

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

By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 14, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Jan. 13, 2026

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 Matthew Thibault • Jan. 12, 2026

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 Sebastian Obando • Jan. 9, 2026