Construction Economic News

The project stress index composite represents an equal-weight measure of the seasonally adjusted level of pre-construction projects that have experienced a delayed bid date, have been placed on hold, or have been abandoned in the last 30-days. For the week ending November 20th,

Project Stress Index registered 120.2, indicating that last week’s project stress conditions were 20.2% above their 2021 average level.

Project Stress Index registered 120.2, indicating that last week’s project stress conditions were 20.2% above their 2021 average level.

Project Stress Index registered 120.2, indicating that last week’s project stress conditions were 20.2% above their 2021 average level.

Project Stress Index Moves Higher On Rising Abandoned Project Readings: 122.7, +3.4%

COMPOSITE OVERVIEW: The project stress index composite represents an equal-weight measure of the seasonally adjusted level of pre-construction projects that have experienced a delayed bid date, have been placed on hold, or have been abandoned in the last 30-days. For the week ending October 15th, 2023, the Index registered 118.3, signaling a stress level approximately 18% above the average 2021 weekly reading. The Index decreased by 0.5% week over week resulting primarily from a decline in the level of bid date delayed projects. This movement overshadowed minor changes in the level of on hold and abandoned project levels. The latest result ends a two-month long trend of sequentially higher stress readings in which abandoned and on hold projects grew rapidly. Additional weeks of measurements will determine if this week’s pause in rising stress readings represents a temporary pause in a broader run-up, a plateau, or the beginning of a decline in construction stress.

COMPOSITE OVERVIEW: The project stress index composite represents an equal-weight measure of the seasonally adjusted level of pre-construction projects that have experienced a delayed bid date, have been placed on hold, or have been abandoned in the last 30-days. Compared to the average level of project stress in 2021, today’s stress level is almost 19% higher. The week’s composite result increased by 0.5% from a week ago due to a 5% increase in projects placed on hold. This increase overshadowed small declines in delayed and abandoned project levels. The composite’s current reading is its highest since late April 2023. The latest absolute count of abandoned projects marked the series’ third highest reading since 2020. After seasonal adjustment though the figure was less concerning as it is customary for abandoned counts to temporarily surge during the second half of the calendar year.

Can public spending continue to play the role of industry backstop while public finances steadily become untenable?