Construction stress nudged upward to start 2026 after a year of steady relief, according to the latest data from Cincinatti-based ConstructConnect.
The Project Stress Index, a measure of construction projects that have been paused, abandoned or have a delayed bid date, ticked up 0.5% month over month to kick off 2026. That’s largely due to month-to-month increases in projects put on hold and bid date delays, according to the data. Both those categories rose 16.9% and 13.3%, respectively, in January.
On a positive note, abandoned projects declined 19.6% in January, largely offsetting those jumps.
Though the index hovers around 2.5% above its 2021 baseline, it is in much better shape than this time a year ago, Devin Bell, associate economist at ConstructConnect, told Construction Dive.
“The PSI remains 11.6% below year-ago levels,” said Bell. “In that period, all three stress indicators have decreased as well.”
Abandonments posted the most significant improvement over the past 12 months, falling 20.7%, according to the data. Bid date delays and on-holds also declined 8.3% and 3.9%, respectively, year over year.
The relief stretched to both private and public construction sites as well, noted Bell.
Both private and public project abandonments, for example, fell 20.4% and 41.1% over the past year, said Bell. Meanwhile, projects placed on hold dropped for private and public work over the past 12 months, down 6.3% and 2.7%, he added.
“Recent rate cuts could help continue keeping stress conditions low in 2026 as firms are able to access loans on more favorable terms,” said Bell.
