Economy

Oil Prices Contribute to March Surge in Construction Materials Prices

“Construction materials prices surged in March and are now up 4.8% year over year, the largest annual increase since January 2023,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

‘We Need to Lower Interest Rates’: Anirban Basu on 2026 Q1 Construction Economy

Data center construction, the Strait of Hormuz and that tenacious labor shortage are all top of mind for contractors this quarter.

Selective Growth: FMI’s 2026 North American Engineering & Construction Outlook

Construction activity in North America is expected to stabilize but grow modestly in 2026.

Private Nonresidential Construction Slows for Fourth Straight Month in January Despite Jump in Data Center Spending

WASHINGTON, March 23—Total nonresidential construction spending was virtually unchanged in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending [...]

Piles of steel beams covered in ice and snow.

Steel Cooling: Steel Costs Steadily Decline After Pandemic Price Shock

by Construction Executive | Apr 3, 2026
Research | Business | Economy | Nuts + Bolts

Despite minor tariff-induce volatility, steel prices have steadily cooled off over the last year.

A 3D model of the supreme court building in Washington, D.C.

Wiring the AI Economy: Construction Spending on Data Centers

Explosive growth in data center construction is straining labor markets, reshaping policy debates and accelerating technology adoption across the construction industry.

A man in a blue shirt holding a tablet and checking off task boxes with a pen.

Prove It: What Surety Underwriters Seek in Contractors

Surety underwriters are backing disciplined contractors with strong finances, capable leadership and clear growth strategies. Learn new strategies for the key factors—capital, capacity and character—that determine bonding support as project sizes grow and industry risks evolve.

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Oil Prices Contribute to March Surge in Construction Materials Prices

‘We Need to Lower Interest Rates’: Anirban Basu on 2026 Q1 Construction Economy

Selective Growth: FMI’s 2026 North American Engineering & Construction Outlook

Private Nonresidential Construction Slows for Fourth Straight Month in January Despite Jump in Data Center Spending

Steel Cooling: Steel Costs Steadily Decline After Pandemic Price Shock

Wiring the AI Economy: Construction Spending on Data Centers

Prove It: What Surety Underwriters Seek in Contractors

Construction Futures: March 2026 Economic Roundup

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2023 Construction Costs Outlook Remains Volatile

Risk Outlook 2023: Pressures on Profits Persist

Digitization in Surety Lays Foundation for Construction to Meet Global Growth Demands

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