Manufacturing starts, construction’s safety blanket, slump 68%

Despite the pullback, Dodge’s chief economist maintains underlying trends point to a “very healthy sector.”

By Sebastian Obando • May 18, 2023

Debt ceiling breach would sink construction starts by as much as 30%

If policymakers fail to avert the crisis by the June deadline, all types of building activity would slow, including projects boosted by federal funding packages, according to Dodge.

By Sebastian Obando • May 18, 2023

Backlog rebounds from 7-month low

Boosted by a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects, contractors continue to express confidence in their six-month outlooks, despite economic headwinds.

By Sebastian Obando • May 16, 2023

WSP profits, backlog up, buoyed by US projects

CEO Alexandre L’Heureux expects opportunities in the U.S. to stay robust, and said he sees artificial intelligence as an enabler, not a disrupter.

By Julie Strupp • May 11, 2023

Annual material prices trend lower for second straight month

Despite an overall decline in input prices, double-digit annual cost increases persist for certain critical construction commodities.

By Sebastian Obando • May 11, 2023

Business, construction leaders urge quick resolution to looming debt ‘catastrophe’

President Joe Biden and congressional leaders met this week as the threat of a default on the country’s $31.4 trillion debt grows.

By Jennifer Goodman • May 11, 2023

US hotel construction pipeline grows as developers eye cost-effective projects

According to a Lodging Econometrics report, recovery in travel demand led to first-quarter pipeline growth, though developers are seeking alternatives to new construction.

By Jenna Graber • May 11, 2023

Construction’s profit margins sink to lowest level since mid-pandemic

U.S. construction firms’ bottom lines plummeted 27% in the first quarter of this year, a trend reflected in many public contractors’ earnings reports.

By Sebastian Obando • May 10, 2023

AECOM reports record backlog as profits jump

CEO Troy Rudd said he expects infrastructure, resilience and energy transition opportunities to grow worldwide in the coming decades.

By Julie Strupp • May 10, 2023

Office vacancy rate hits 30-year high

Unleased office rates reached 17.8% in Q1, as hybrid work and recession fears weighed on demand, according to CBRE.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 10, 2023

Bank failures put squeeze on construction loans

The lending environment, which has grown more treacherous over recent weeks, could dampen new multifamily starts by as much as 60%, according to one executive.

By Leslie Shaver • May 9, 2023

Construction planning drops 2 months in a row

Weak activity for offices, hotels and retail pulled the Dodge Momentum Index lower.

By Sebastian Obando • May 8, 2023

Blame it on the weather: Granite pegs Q1 loss, revenue dip to extreme storms

Despite delays, the California contractor boosted its backlog to a record $5.1 billion and said its shift to smaller, lower risk projects was bearing fruit.

By Joe Bousquin • May 2, 2023

Manufacturing sustains construction spending — again

The manufacturing boom is helping the industry weather softening residential and other nonresidential markets.

By Sebastian Obando • May 1, 2023

Market uncertainty splits construction into ‘haves and have-nots’

Dodge’s Richard Branch talks with Construction Dive about recent banking turmoil, industry bifurcation and standout sectors in 2023.

By Sebastian Obando • April 26, 2023

Construction starts ‘likely to erode,’ economist says

Building activity remains high for now, despite increased concerns around the economy and tightened lending standards, per Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • April 25, 2023

Subcontractors spent $97B more than planned in 2022

Prices for materials and labor continued to rise last year, as subcontractors often waited two and a half months before they secured payment.

By Zachary Phillips • April 21, 2023

How contractors use tech to tighten up supply chains

Centralized material tracking is key to shoring up the weak links in the procurement process exposed by the pandemic, construction execs say.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 19, 2023

The country’s top 25 apartment builders

Summit Contracting Group topped the National Multifamily Housing Council’s ranking, reflecting the company's growth and an active period for the sector, said President Marc Padgett.

By Leslie Shaver • April 19, 2023

Banking turmoil stirs up new headwinds for construction

Recent uncertainty among lenders could lead to new challenges for U.S. construction firms as more projects fail to pencil out.

By Sebastian Obando • April 17, 2023

Material prices are finally lower than a year ago

Collectively, commodity costs dropped year-over-year for the first time since August 2020, even as some items continued to get more expensive.

By Sebastian Obando • April 13, 2023

4 ways that recent banking failures will impact the multifamily sector

After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature, multifamily borrowers could face challenges finding construction debt and loans from smaller lenders.

By Leslie Shaver • April 13, 2023

Total crane count rises but commercial work dips

The number of cranes in North American cities grew by 7% from the most recent report by Rider Levett Bucknall, but the increase was concentrated in the multifamily sector.

By Zachary Phillips • April 13, 2023

Banking woes hit construction planning outlook

The Dodge Momentum Index, which leads actual construction by a year, tumbled 8.6% in March amid lending concerns.

By Sebastian Obando • April 11, 2023

A Maryland GC just posted its largest backlog ever. So why is its president worried?

Marty Copsey, president and chief operating officer of MacKenzie Contracting, discussed industry headwinds with Construction Dive.

By Sebastian Obando • April 10, 2023