Blog: Trends & Insights

Our data experts have been tracking and monitoring construction material costs for decades and track price fluctuations impacted by response to public policy, concerns about infrastructure or the effects of the pandemic and natural disasters. We examine the long-term cost trends of the industry’s most vital materials. In this edition of What the Data Says, we’re taking a look at the extraordinary rise in the cost of copper wire and EMT conduit.

In partnership with Facility Executive, we recently surveyed hundreds of facilities leaders to find out how their needs and priorities have changed over the past 18 months. See how the pandemic has impacted the funding and completion of construction projects.

Our data experts have been monitoring construction costs for decades, tracking price fluctuations impacted by response to public policy, concerns about infrastructure or the effects of the pandemic and natural disasters. We examine the long-term cost trends of the industry’s most vital materials. In this edition of What the Data Says, we examine the continued cost increases of interior finishes.

In this edition of What the Data Says, we’re taking a look at the extraordinary rise in structural steel costs. Over the past several months, we have become accustomed to volatility in this commodity’s pricing but the latest increase is unprecedented. The price of structural steel has increased 91% since the last quarter of 2020, rising 45% in the past quarter.

There’s a common notion in the industry that estimators can take last year’s price for a given material and add a couple percentage points to account for any increases. But there are two issues with this mindset - issues that are solved by quarterly construction material cost updates.