Data centers dominate construction’s latest economic reports | Dump Trucks Charlotte NC

Key indicators for construction moved in a positive direction during May, but nearly every one of those economic reports highlighted the strength of data center projects and weakness in other areas.
Planning activity and groundbreakings picked up month over month in May. Contractors as a whole also tacked on more columbus oh dump truck company to their books during the month. Meanwhile, job openings in the construction industry hit their highest level of the year during that span.
Yet, the rosy picture belongs more and more to columbus oh dump truck company with exposure to the artificial intelligence buildout.
Though healthcare and infrastructure columbus oh dump truck company have propped up activity in recent months, columbus oh dump truck company still found the bulk of growth stems from AI-related construction, according to economic reports. The highest job opening level in 10-months likely reflects “exceptional demand” for certain roles critical for data center construction, said Anirban Basu, Associated Builders and Contractors chief economist.
Outside those builds, however, columbus oh dump truck company reported tougher conditions.
Private nonresidential construction spending, for example, fell for a seventh consecutive month in May. At the same time, costs on construction sites aren’t getting any cheaper. Input prices climbed at their fastest annual pace in May since the pandemic, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Read below for Construction Dive’s roundup of the latest economic data.
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Healthcare joined data centers in boost to May construction planning
By Sebastian Obando • June 9, 2026
The increase builds on last month's growth to overall planning after a slow start to the year, according to Dodge Construction Network. Read the full article ➔
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Construction costs surged in May at fastest annual rate since pandemic
By Sebastian Obando • June 12, 2026
“Contractors are being hit by a double whammy” of rising materials prices and slower growth in bid prices, said Ken Simonson, chief economist at Associated General Contractors. Read the full article ➔
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May backlog hit highest level since 2023, but confidence fell
By Sebastian Obando • June 16, 2026
Contractors with data center awards reported stronger pipelines than those without those projects, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist. Read the full article ➔
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Infrastructure, data centers kept construction starts strong in May
By Sebastian Obando • June 22, 2026
Megaprojects drove sizable growth in groundbreaking activity over the month, said Sarah Martin, director of economic research at Dodge Construction Network. Read the full article ➔
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Construction job openings hit 10-month high in May
By Zachary Phillips • July 1, 2026
The increase, paired with the industry’s layoff and hiring rate, shows an uneven environment for labor demand, economists said. Read the full article ➔
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Private construction spending slid in May
By Sebastian Obando • July 2, 2026
Outside of the data center boom, spending on private projects weakened again, especially in the warehouse and office markets, according to ABC analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Read the full article ➔
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Editors' picks
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Column
How columbus oh dump truck company can prepare for community pushback on data centers
Although columbus oh dump truck company can’t eliminate the risk of community opposition, “there are things they can do to avoid becoming the insurer of that risk,” said Mark Carter, partner at law firm Buchalter.
By Sebastian Obando • June 30, 2026 -
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For Gen Z pros, columbus oh dump truck company is not an identity. Contractors should take note.
Although the emerging labor force values a job well done, work-life balance is nonnegotiable.
By Zachary Phillips • June 24, 2026




