ABC Legislative Update & Member Committees

ABC of the Carolinas - "The Construction Association of Choice"

North & South Carolina Legislative Priorities

The Carolinas Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced a legislative agenda for the 2017 legislative session that sets a path for increasing construction activity, creating jobs, preserving the state's heritage and ensuring that new generations of students can be educated in the trades.

"As the North Carolina General Assembly convenes in Raleigh to open the 2017-2018 Legislation Session, ABC of the Carolinas unveils an agenda that includes but is not limited to legislation and policy that will increase economic activity, reduce regulatory concern, and invest in our states future with regards to construction", said ABC Carolinas President Doug Carlson. Chris Bullard, Director of Government Affairs added, "ABC Carolinas pledges to work, in a bi-partisan manner with members of the General Assembly to advance and foster legislation that enhances a business friendly environment and a safe and sustainable future for North Carolinians"

To view the agenda, click here.

ABC Member Committees

ABC offers all of its members an opportunity to serve on various committees. By providing valuable input to the association's Board of Directors and Area Councils, committees help establish the policies, priorities and objectives of ABC Carolinas.

Members volunteer their time to serve on various committees, helping other members get the most from their membership. If you are interested in serving on a committee or would like to learn more, please contact any membership director.

For Coastal, Fayetteville, and Eastern NC, contact April Frye.

For Charlotte and Upstate SC, contact Kristen Powell.

For Columbia and Lowcountry, contact Pamela Richards.

Trump administration targeting 50 US Infrastructure

Projects worth over $137B

The Trump team began assembling the list of potential projects prior to inauguration and has solicited input from U.S. governors. The projects are in various phases of progress and range in cost from hundreds of thousands of dollars to several billion.

Officials, according to McClatchy, are focusing on the public-private partnership structure for the projects included on the list, which includes a varied sampling of airports, roads, bridges, ports and other critical transportation-related projects across the U.S. for consideration. See the full list of projects here.

To continue reading, click here.

Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expands 2.4 Percent,

but U.S. Economic Growth Slows in Fourth Quarter

The improved performance of the U.S. economy during last year's third quarter gave way to a weaker period of growth in the fourth, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during 2016's final quarter, down from a 3.5 percent expansion in the third quarter. While the fourth quarter represents the 11th consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, overall GDP growth for 2016 totaled 1.6 percent, the slowest rate of expansion since 2011.

To continue reading, click here.

Overall Construction Input Prices Firm in

December as Energy Prices Surge

Construction input prices rebounded in December after experiencing a steep decline in November, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Input prices rose 0.4 percent for the month and are up 2.1 percent year-over-year, the largest 12-month increase in 30 months.

Nonresidential input prices collectively experienced a slightly larger increase, due in part to surging iron and steel prices, rising 0.6 percent for the month and 2.2 percent on the year. Though a number of input categories have experienced significant increases in prices in recent months, the overall price gains are largely attributable to energy prices. Crude petroleum prices rose 18.9 percent for the month, natural gas prices rose 23.1 percent and unprocessed energy materials rose 14.6 percent. Concrete products and the category that includes prepared asphalt experienced minimal declines in prices in December.

To continue reading, click here.