Items Tagged with 'confidence index'

Demand for AI infrastructure pushes the industry through headwinds.

Data centers continue to account for much of the backlog for large contractors. 

Construction exec optimism edges higher, despite headwinds.

Contractor backlog edged up in February but remains below historical norms, with Midwest growth driving gains even as infrastructure work and profit-margin confidence soften.

Contractors’ backlogs have fallen to a four-year low, according to ABC data, yet contractors continue to remain optimistic about project timing despite what the downturn signals for 2026 workloads.

ABC’s December backlog uptick hints at steadier pipelines, but underlying data show uneven momentum across firm sizes as contractors navigate rates, labor pressures and starts.

ENR’s Construction Industry Confidence Index rose four points between Q3 and Q4, to a slightly optimistic 52 rating. The economic index also rose four points, to a 48 rating.

Data centers lead industry growth as backlog remains unchanged in September.

Construction industry executives report little change in sentiment between Q2 and Q3. ENR’s Confidence Index rose one point to a still slightly pessimistic 48 rating this quarter.

The backlog indicator was up slightly from the previous month and year-over-year, but ABC's confidence index saw a dip.