Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in February from January’s 8.0 months, according to a recent ABC member survey. The reading, however, is down 0.2 months from February 2025.
The Middle States was the only region with a higher backlog than one year ago, according to the survey, with sharp increases in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
In ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, readings for sales and staffing levels increased month-over-month from 61.2 to 63. Sales also increased from 64.7 to 65.8. Profit margins went down from January’s 53.4 to 52.9. All three readings remain above the threshold of 50, “indicating expectations for growth over the next six months,” according to ABC.
“Backlog bounced back from January’s four-year low, yet it remains subdued by historical standards,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “It’s notable that backlog growth has been confined to the Middle States region. After struggling in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, the Midwest has posted surprisingly strong population and economic growth over the past year, and that growth has clearly translated into increased levels of construction activity.
For more information, visit abc.org.
