Construction activity in the U.S. is on an apparent upswing, according to the latest RLB Crane Index from Rider Levett Bucknall. Of the 18 cities examined in the quarterly survey, 11 reported an increase in crane activity.
The index tracks the number of fixed cranes at construction sites to provide a thumbnail look at construction activity.
Four of the 18 cities maintained the same crane count quarter-over-quarter, while three cities declined.
“Increases were led by commercial, education, hospitality, industrial, mixed-use, public/civic, and transportation developments, offset in part by reduced activity in the federal, healthcare, and sports sectors,” the summary said.
Las Vegas is among the few cities reporting a decrease. According to the market summary, “Las Vegas had a gradual decline in construction crane count. There is a shifting residential building slowdown alongside major commercial and resort megaprojects. Master-planned communities see steady but slower development, while high-profile Strip developments like the Hard Rock guitar tower continue moving toward late 2027 completion. Fluctuating and high fuel costs, peaking with spikes over $5 a gallon in the spring, due to Middle East conflicts significantly raised Las Vegas construction expenses.”
