Public projects surge, private starts falter

Commercial and apartment construction are feeling the weight of higher interest rates, tighter lending and lower demand, as jobs tied to public funding jumped, Dodge said.

By Sebastian Obando • June 21, 2023

How 5 new Texas laws will impact construction

These bills from the latest legislative session nix water breaks for workers, allow third-party permitting and fund water infrastructure.

By Julie Strupp • June 20, 2023

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 prices fall for third straight month, but inflation persists

Despite pricing declines for some materials, megaprojects in progress across the country will keep the costs of key construction supplies elevated, an economist said.

By Sebastian Obando • June 15, 2023

Amazon to demolish 9 Virginia office buildings to make way for data centers

The tech giant and other firms are evaluating ways to transform vacant office space for new uses.

By Sebastian Obando • June 14, 2023

S&P raises alarms on CRE financing

Though owners throughout the commercial real estate space are being affected by recent financial headwinds, the office sector is facing the most intense pressure right now, a new report says.

By Leslie Shaver • June 13, 2023

Canadian wildfires prompt Northeast contractors to send workers home

Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor OSHA have mandates on when outdoor work should cease due to hazardous air quality.

By Sebastian Obando • June 8, 2023

Weak office, hotel sectors continue to drag on construction planning

While office and hotel planning continue to drop, healthcare and education projects posted a 5.6% jump in May, according to Dodge Construction Network.

By Sebastian Obando • June 8, 2023

Higher material prices here to stay

More upward pressure on the cost of building products will lead to a permanent shift in prices, according to construction industry sources.

By Sebastian Obando • June 1, 2023

‘What recession?’ Nearly all sectors see strong construction spending

Most nonresidential categories jumped in April, led by 8.6% growth in manufacturing construction.

By Sebastian Obando • June 1, 2023

New York builders group looks to accelerate IIJA funding

“We’re still sitting on billions of unspent federal dollars,” said Carlo Scissura, CEO and president of the New York Building Congress. 

By Sebastian Obando • May 24, 2023

Construction costs push JE Dunn jail project price up 17%

Rising materials costs caused a delay on the $301 million detention center in Kansas City.

By Sebastian Obando • May 19, 2023

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 Walters • 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