Project Stress Index holds close to historic norms

The Project Stress Index Composite, a seasonally adjusted, equal-weight measure of delayed, on-hold, or abandoned projects, rose modestly (1.5%) in April.

The index has seen an 8% rise in bid date delays, a 46% increase in abandonments, and a 21% decrease in on-hold activities since the end of 2024. “Even with these changes, bid date delays, abandonments, and on-hold activity remain within or close to historic norms,” according to ConstructConnect.

When comparing April 2024 to April 2025, ConstructConnect found “mild changes” in bid date delays and on-hold activity. “We suspect the increase in abandonment activity has been partially worsened due to recent and volatile changes in trade policy,” the firm said.

When comparing public projects to private projects, April results showed an increase in bid-date-delayed activity across both sectors. Private sector abandonments climbed by 25% during April, close to multi-year highs. By contrast, public abandonments remained well within historical norms.