The Project Stress Index (PSI) closed April 2026 at 98.7, marking a 5.6% decline from March’s reading.
While minor month-over-month increases were observed in bid date delays and on-hold activity, these were more than offset by a 14.7% drop in project abandonments.
All three stress indicators showed declines compared to April 2025, with bid date delays down 9.4%, on-hold activity decreasing 2.4%, and abandonments dropping 17.0%.
The Project Stress Index (PSI) closed April 2026 at 98.7, marking a 5.6% decline from March’s reading.
While minor month-over-month increases were observed in bid-date delays and on-hold activity, these were more than offset by a 14.7% drop in project abandonments.
Despite the slight upticks in delays and on-hold activity, both metrics remain near historic averages and below the 2021 baseline of 100. As a result, April’s PSI reached its lowest month-end level since August 2024.
Year-over-year improvements in the index were equally notable. All three stress indicators showed declines compared to April 2025, with bid date delays down 9.4%, on-hold activity decreasing 2.4%, and abandonments dropping 17.0%. These reductions collectively brought the PSI 10.4% lower than its level a year ago.
Delay Bid Date95.5 |
On-Hold91.2 |
Abandoned109.2 |
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Month-on-month changes of less than 0.25% are indicated as unchanged. Image and Data by ConstructConnect.
The ConstructConnect Project Stress Index (PSI) composite chart is shown from April 2024 to April 2026. The PSI is a seasonally adjusted, equal-weight measure of delayed, on-hold, or abandoned projects. (Month-on-month changes of less than 0.25% are indicated as unchanged). Image and Data by ConstructConnect
Public and private projects often exhibit distinct stress trends due to the differing market forces that influence them. This distinction was evident in April’s abandonment activity, with private sector abandonments increasing over the month while public sector abandonment activity declined.
This divergence could be linked to elevated energy and material prices amid ongoing shipping disruptions through the Middle East, which may be reaching private projects more acutely, while public projects remain insulated for the time being.
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READ THE FAQs on The Project Stress Index
The Project Stress Index (PSI) composite represents an equal-weight measure of the seasonally adjusted level of preconstruction projects that have experienced a delayed bid date, been placed on hold, or abandoned in the last 30 days. The PSI only monitors nonresidential and multifamily projects in their preconstruction phases, thus excluding any single-family home construction. Each component has been seasonally adjusted and then indexed against its 2021 average weekly reading. The independent tracking of each status type gives unique insights into market changes’ timing, direction, and amplitude. Additional information about the PSI, including detailed data about the individual readings for delayed, on-hold, and abandoned projects, can be found here.
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