Bryan Gottlieb

July’s payrolls grew by a meager 73,000, falling short of expectations; May and June numbers were each revised downward, while earnings remained flat.

A record crowd turned out for SkillsUSA’s 61st National Conference, where commercial contracting saw peak participation—signaling Gen Z’s rising interest in skilled trades.

Home Depot has joined the race to acquire GMS, challenging QXO’s $5B bid and setting the stage for a potential bidding war among major building product players.

QXO makes an unsolicited bid to buy specialty products distributor GMS for $5 billion, aiming to speed up deliveries, boost inventory and unify tech—potentially reshaping how contractors get drywall and building supplies.

Aluminum and steel tariffs doubled on June 4, spiking prices 54 percent and straining construction budgets. Contractors face rising costs, labor shortages and shrinking margins amid the most aggressive trade stance in decades.

A federal court struck down Trump’s broad “Liberation Day” tariffs, ruling that they exceeded his emergency powers and reaffirmed Congress’s authority over trade policy, thereby bolstering stable global trade dynamics.

Tax reforms in the recently House-passed version of the 2026 federal budget proposal offer good news for contractors—if the country can weather its long-term costs.

Walmart’s tariff warning underscores how U.S. businesses—not foreign exporters—absorb costs, driving up prices and straining construction and roofing supply chains.

James Hardie is set to acquire AZEK for $8.75B, merging to create a leading exterior and outdoor living brand; the deal is set to close in the second half of 2025. 

President Donald Trump’s broad-based immigration enforcement using multiple government agencies has scrutinized employers more; more worksite inspections, I-9 examinations, audits, targeted investigations, and severe penalties for non-compliance.