Steel imports down 30% in 2026 as tariffs bolster US production

Raw and finished steel reached 1.87 million net tons for the month of April, driven by increased imports of tin plate, metallic coatings and other goods, according to census data.

By Nathan Owens • June 5, 2026

Data center construction spending rocketed 28% in the last year

Overall nonresidential construction spending, however, ticked up 0.1% month over month in April, with momentum elsewhere “difficult to find,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

By Sebastian Obando • June 3, 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

Trump further tweaks steel, aluminum, copper tariffs

A greater range of industrial and agricultural equipment made with the metals will temporarily face a reduced 15% levy starting June 8, per the White House.

By Phil Neuffer • June 3, 2026

April construction job openings hit highest mark of 2026

As the number of unfilled positions jumped 10.6% MOM, the rate of layoffs hit a four-year low, indicating contractors are clinging to the workers they already have.

By Zachary Phillips • June 3, 2026

Construction shows signs of life beyond data centers

Despite hopeful signs, rising fuel prices will take a toll on material costs in the second half of the year, according to construction data provider Gordian.

By Sebastian Obando • May 28, 2026

C-suite construction execs stay bullish on data center boom

Leaders at publicly traded companies reported the market continues to grow their bottom lines even as risks and challenges begin to emerge.

By Zachary Phillips • May 27, 2026

Construction starts jumped in April as more project types broke ground

Unlike recent months, groundbreakings stretched beyond a handful of data center and energy megaprojects, according to Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • May 22, 2026

C-suite construction execs downplay Iran war costs

During recent earnings calls, major builders said they have seen prices rise as a result of the conflict, but have methods for navigating the fuel spikes.

By Zachary Phillips • May 20, 2026

Latest construction data shows activity hinges on AI buildout

A jump in energy prices caused some building progress to slow in March, especially for work outside of the data center boom.

By Sebastian Obando • May 20, 2026

Major general contractors bullish on data center, AI boom

During the most recent batch of earnings calls, publicly traded firms remained confident on the data center build out, with one civil firm indicating it would pursue the sector for the first time. 

By Zachary Phillips • May 18, 2026

Construction prices ‘surged’ in April, up 6.2% year to date

Input prices have now risen more during the first four months of 2026 than over the past three years, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. 

By Sebastian Obando • May 14, 2026

Iran war inflation crimps profits, plans for investment, hiring: NABE

Half of the respondents to a National Association for Business Economics survey put the odds of a U.S. recession in the next 12 months at 26% or higher.

By Jim Tyson • May 13, 2026

Data centers remain ‘largest driver behind growth’ in construction planning

Nonresidential planning accelerated in April after a slow start to the year, according to Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • May 11, 2026

Skanska says its work unimpacted by major economic headwinds

The firm continues to manage risk and deliver profits on the back of U.S. construction work, the contractor reported in its first-quarter earnings.

By Zachary Phillips • May 8, 2026

‘Energy security’ drives Schneider Electric growth: CEO

Revenue jumped in part due to the AI boom, while geopolitical uncertainty boosted the outlook for electrified, digitized building systems, executives said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call. 

By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2026

Senators introduce bill to enforce Buy America compliance

The legislation follows an Office of Inspector General audit that found the FAA failed to include required Buy American-related clauses in contracts funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

By Sara Samora • May 4, 2026

Fed holds main rate steady, notes risks to jobs, inflation from Iran war

Jerome Powell said after the end of his term as Federal Reserve chair in May he will remain on the board as a governor to help ensure the Fed is free of political interference.

By Jim Tyson • April 30, 2026

What’s really driving volatility in construction cost estimates

Clients often take early projections as gospel. Instead, builders should educate them on how the numbers can change, write two consultants.

By Michael Feeney and Charles Cleary • April 28, 2026

Punch List: Biden-era PLA mandate upheld, prices rise and Skanska delivers healthcare project

Federal project labor agreements are here to stay, Turner sees costs going up nearly 5% year over year and more of this week’s news for builders.

By Construction Dive Staff • April 24, 2026

What to know about Trump’s tariff refund process

Finance leaders are expected to play a central role in steering companies through the claims process set to launch on Monday.

By Alexei Alexis • April 20, 2026

The US may already have a negative immigration rate. That’s bad for construction.

Some reports indicate more people are leaving the U.S. than arriving. Experts say that has direct impacts on workforce availability and meeting project demand.

By Zachary Phillips • April 17, 2026

Backlog rebounded in March with contractors unfazed by Iran war impacts

Contractors added 0.5 months of work to their books over the month, with outsized growth in data center projects.

By Sebastian Obando • April 15, 2026

Oil prices triggered higher construction costs in March

Input prices rose 18% at an annualized rate for the first three months of the year.

By Sebastian Obando • April 15, 2026

Iran war impacts on oil prices spiked construction stress, increased abandonments

Construction saw a 22.8% surge in project abandonments month over month in March, which ConstructConnect linked to economic impacts brought on by the war.

By Sebastian Obando • April 14, 2026

Construction’s economic outlook is increasingly cloudy

Aside from the artificial intelligence buildout, the industry’s numbers have weakened. The boom “probably will end at some point. But not now,” said an economist.

By Sebastian Obando • April 13, 2026