Associated Builders and Contractors recently released its inaugural Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI), a forward-looking measurement reflecting the amount of work to be performed by contractors in the months ahead. A high backlog value (measured in months) indicated abundant work is due to begin in the near term with predictable overall economic benefits. A low backlog indicates fewer projects are under contract leading to more uncertain economic impact. Excessively small backlogs mean contractors are running low on available work and need to identify and secure additional sources of future revenue.
This new, national economic data set is the only reliable leading economic indicator offering this level of specificity focused on the U.S. commercial and institutional, industrial, and infrastructure construction industries. ABC will compile this data on an ongoing basis, releasing the latest CBI every other month to track industry trends.
ABC would like to expand the number of ABC contractors participating in ABC’s new national Backlog Indicator Survey. The commitment to participate would be to complete the Backlog Indicator survey once a month around the 20th of each month which would be emailed to ABC’s Chief Economist with all information being held as confidential. If ABC/WW can get enough contractors signed up to participate, Anirban Basu, our chief economist would be able to have a statistically sound sample for the state, and not just the region. This would be a great benefit for the ABC/WW membership.
If you are interested in participating in the Backlog Indicator Survey, please contact Kim Trautman at (800) 640-7789, (425) 646-8000. For more information on the ABC Construction Backlog Indicator visit www.abc.org.