Construction market insights for contractors
Original analysis of costs, tariffs, labor and market trends, written by our estimating team for contractors who bid work every week.
US Construction Market Update: Fall 2026
Where US construction stands in fall 2026: spending trends, contractor backlog, data center demand and rising costs, and what it means for contractors bidding work.
Read · 6 minCosts & pricing · Oct 24, 2026Construction Tariffs in 2026: How to Protect Your Bids
A plain-English guide to the 2026 tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and lumber, which trades are most exposed, and how to price tariff risk into your estimates.
Read · 7 minLabor · Oct 20, 2026The 2026 Labor Shortage: How to Price Labor Without Losing the Job
The construction industry needs about 349,000 new workers in 2026. What the labor shortage means for productivity, labor rates and how you price labor in bids.
Read · 6 minMarket update · Oct 16, 2026The Data Center Boom: Opportunities for Contractors Who Don't Build Data Centers
Data center spending is soaring while large contractors absorb the work. Why that creates openings for mid-size commercial GCs and trade contractors, and how to win them.
Read · 5 minEstimating guide · Oct 10, 2026How to Review a Bid Set Before You Price It
A practical checklist for reviewing drawings, specifications and addenda before you start a takeoff, so scope gaps don't turn into lost margin.
Read · 6 min