Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator decreased to 8.3 months in February, up 0.2 months since February 2024.
ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in January. The readings for all three were above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.
“While many other economic sentiment readings have deteriorated in recent months, contractors remain optimistic that business conditions will improve through the first half of 2025,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said in a statement. “Nearly 60% of contractors intend to increase their staffing levels over the next six months, the highest share in over two years. These hiring expectations suggest that the recent slowdown in industrywide employment is largely confined to the residential segment.”
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