1、QUARTERLY CONSTRUCTION COST REPORT2026First QuarterMoana Surfrider,a Westin Resort&SpaPaul Brussow President North AmericaAT A GLANCENORTH AMERICA|Q1 2026Periods of rapid growth are often followed by moments of adjustment.For the construction industry,early 2026 appears to be one of those moment
2、s;less about slowing down and more about recalibrating how we move forward.A Market in RecalibrationAfter several years of volatility,the construction industry appears to be entering a period of recalibration.Momentum hasnt disappeared,but the market is adjusting its footing as inflation stabilizes
3、and broader economic forces reshape the landscape.At the same time,the definition of“normal”varies significantly across sectors.Contractor confidence remains strong overall,with data centers,energy infrastructure,healthcare,and education driving activity,while traditional commercial sectors continue
4、 to move forward more cautiously.Construction cost inflation is beginning to level off.Quarterly increases are holding near 1%,translating to an annualized rate just above 4%.While still elevated(most of the pressure coming from materials costs)compared to historical 3%per annum,the consistency sugg
5、ests that the industry may be settling into a more predictable environment,one where owners and developers can recalibrate expectations and plan investments with greater confidence.At the same time,the broader economic environment continues to introduce new variables.Tariff policy,federal spending p
6、riorities,and evolving immigration laws are adding complexity to long-term planning.For an industry where projects often span multiple years,these policy shifts make forecasting labor availability and material costs increasingly challenging.Immigration policy carries particular weight,as foreign-bor