Alisa Zevin

1 week ago | enr.com | Alisa Zevin

Construction material prices rose 0.5% on a monthly basis in March, with yearly prices up 0.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Price Producer Index released April 11. While the administering of tariffs to various countries remains volatile, prices for many materials are beginning to see the effects.

2 weeks ago | enr.com | Alisa Zevin

After going into effect for a roughly half a day on April 9, President Trump pulled back most of the new tariffs his administration announced last week, putting them on a 90-day pause. This leaves the current 10% tariff rate that went into effect in early April in place for most countries, while China will be slapped with 125%, a higher rate than announced last week. China recently reported that imports from the United States would face a tariff of 84%.

3 weeks ago | enr.com | Alisa Zevin

Industry experts are bracing for impact after President Trump announced April 2 a 10% tariff on all countries beginning April 5, with roughly 60 countries, among them China and the European Union, subject to higher rates starting April 9.

3 weeks ago | enr.com | Alisa Zevin

Tariff implications, persisting inflation woes and stalling rate cuts could bring an economic downturn in the coming year, Anirban Basu, chief economist for the Associated Builders and Contractors, said in a first quarter economic update and forecast on April 2.  “I underestimated the U.S. economy’s resilience [in 2023 and 2024] and so I’m fearful of doing that again,” said Basu.

3 weeks ago | enr.com | Alisa Zevin

Construction spending rose in 0.7% in February on a month-to-month basis, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a yearly basis, overall spending increased 2.9%. “Construction spending rebounded in February, following widespread severe weather that may have slowed projects in January,” Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, said in a press release.