Based on recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. construction industry bounced back in April, adding 17,000 net new jobs, according to an analysis by ABC. Last month, initial estimates showed a 15,000 jobs loss, though that has since been revised upward to a loss of 10,000 jobs. During the past year, the construction industry has added 257,000 new jobs, representing a growth rate of 3.7 percent. 

Nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3 percent in March, according to an ABC analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Nonresidential spending, which totaled $740.9 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, has expanded 2.5 percent on a year-over-year basis. February’s spending estimate was revised roughly $10 billion higher, from $732.8 billion to $742.8 billion, rendering the March decline less meaningful.

The March 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was down 1 percent from March 2017, and estimated construction unemployment rates also fell in 37 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by ABC. The national unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, the lowest national March rate on record.

The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.3 percent during the first quarter of 2018, while fixed investment increased at an annualized rate of 4.6 percent, according to an ABC analysis of advanced estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Commercial and industrial construction contractors entered 2018 with abundant confidence regarding sales and staffing levels for the next six months, according to the latest Construction Confidence Index released by ABC. All three components surveyed—sales, profit margins and staffing levels—remained well above 50 in the diffusion index, signaling ongoing progress.

Prices for inputs to construction materials expanded 0.8 percent in March and are 5.8 percent higher than at the same time one year ago, according to an ABC analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Prices for nonresidential construction inputs increased 0.9 percent on a monthly basis and are up 5.6 percent year over year.

The U.S. construction industry lost 15,000 jobs on net in March, according to an ABC analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a significant reversal from February, when the industry added a post-recession high of 65,000 net new jobs (upwardly revised from +61,000).

On March 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce began accepting exclusion requests from U.S. industry for the recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum product imports. According to the notice published in the Federal Register, “individuals or organizations using steel or aluminum articles identified in presidential proclamations 9704 and 9705 and engaged in business activities in the United States may submit exclusion requests.” 

The February 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, down 1 percent from February 2017 and the lowest national February rate on record, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by ABC. Estimated construction unemployment rates were down in 34 states on a year-over-year basis, unchanged in one state (Arizona) and up in 15 states.

Nonresidential construction spending inched 0.1 percent higher in February, according to an ABC analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Nonresidential spending, which totaled $732.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, has expanded 1.3 percent since February 2017.