Did you accidentally turn on the "automatically place structures" option?  there's a button right next to the build buttons (either right below or above "Ping").  If it's on, the counter will go up (because one is going to be built), but you won't get a "place structure cursor" because the game has already decided where to place it : ) 

hmmm.  when I'm going over 10 planets I took over the last hour or so, and maxing out all civilian structures (refineries, trade ports, extractors) I like to be able to just click on the planet from galaxy view, click the civilian structures button and max out the above mentioned structures... All without zooming in and placing one at a time!   Does it really make much difference where those structures are placed?  Of course when I'm building defense platforms/ phase inhibitors/ etc, I turn that button off