Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 8.5 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 22 to Oct. 6. The reading is down 0.1 months since September 2024. During the past year, backlog has declined in the commercial and institutional and heavy industrial categories, while it has increased in the infrastructure category. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales declined in September, while the readings for profit margins and staffing increased. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months. “Falling industrywide employment, a dearth of job openings and ongoing decreases in construction spending have not diminished ABC contractor member backlog or confidence,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said in a press release. Basu said the stability stems primarily from two sources: strong public sector activity and data centers. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables and graph for September. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series.