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Quarterly U.S. Put-in-Place Forecast Report, Fall 2021

Alex Carrick
Quarterly U.S. Put-in-Place Forecast Report, Fall 2021

Two of the major themes that will be governing U.S. construction activity as the coronavirus-caused downturn recedes into legend will be ‘electrification’ and ‘de-carbonization’. In most ways, they are two sides of the same coin, with the former seen by many in public governance, with environmental think tanks, and even among the general populace, as the best way to achieve the latter. ÌýÌý

Winter 2020-21 Review of U.S. Put-in-Place Construction Outlook Graphic

Spearheaded by the auto sector’s commitment to greatly expand EV production, a pronounced shift to more electric power usage and near zero-emitting carbon sources, such as wind and solar, will boost demand for nickel in batteries and copper in distribution and transmission lines. Many other resources are also experiencing a rebirth in demand and prices, after lying dormant for the previous dozen years.

With commodity prices moving higher in the background, inflation is threatening to become more entrenched than is desirable. Another likely underlying theme for the economy and construction markets in the years ahead is a framework of rising costs.

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Some of the shortages along supply lines that are occurring now, and contributing to price increases, are likely to prove temporary (e.g., exorbitant shipping charges for imports from overseas and costly delays for the offloading of cargo at ports). But there are additional inflationary factors waiting in the wings.

Bureau of Labor Statistics figures on year-over-year hourly and weekly wages are climbing at least twice as fast as normal, approaching +5.0%. The massive debt taken on by government to provide business and personal income support in much of 2020 and 2021 will almost certainly lead to tax increases. Nor will interest rates be remaining on the mat forever.

Also, worthy as they are as goals, it would be hard to argue that electrification and de-carbonization won’t be expensive. To be effective, many more homeowners will need to switch to solar paneling, a full range of electric appliances and backup power storage batteries. Heavy industry, including steel, cement and aluminum producers are proceeding with new expenditures on innovative production processes and scrubbing systems to restrain carbon emissions.

Finally, three other trends warrant mention. Currently high-speed residential construction will be handing the baton on to certain recovering segments of nonresidential activity by the mid-point of next year. Working to ensure this transition, especially in the engineering sphere, will be the heightened emphasis put on infrastructure undertakings. And as a final observation, recent events have moved high-rise office and multi-use complexes off center stage in favor of low-rise warehouse and data center structures.

‘Starts’ versus Put-in-place (PIP) Statistics

‘Starts’ compile the total estimated dollar value of all projects on which ground is broken in any given month. By way of contrast, put-in-place capital spending statistics are analogous to work-in-progress payments as the building of structures proceeds to completion.

Consider a $60 million office tower for which ground is broken in June 2021. For the ‘starts’ series, the entire estimated value ($60 million) will be entered in June 2021. In PIP numbers, it will be captured as spending of approximately $15 million in 2021; $25 million in 2022; and the final $20 million in 2023.

Table 1: U.S. Construction Spending (put-in-place investment)
(billions of “current” $s)

Actuals Forecasts
Type of Construction: 2019 2020   2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
 
Grand Total 1391.1 1469.2   1,565.9 1,673.8 1,812.0 1,913.9 1,990.4
(year vs previous year) 4.3% 5.6%   6.6% 6.9% 8.3% 5.6% 4.0%
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Residential 553.4 638.1   768.7 831.0 899.4 949.9 987.4
  -1.9% 15.3%   20.5% 8.1% 8.2% 5.6% 3.9%
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Non-residential 837.6 831.1   797.2 842.8 912.6 964.0 1003.0
  8.9% -0.8%   -4.1% 5.7% 8.3% 5.6% 4.0%
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Commercial/for Lease 206.5 203.3   189.1 189.4 202.5 215.2 223.9
  6.2% -1.6%   -6.9% 0.1% 6.9% 6.3% 4.0%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Lodging 33.5 29.1   20.6 19.1 21.7 23.9 25.7
  6.3% -13.2%   -29.2% -7.2% 13.8% 10.1% 7.3%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Office 88.7 87.4   81.1 77.0 76.8 79.6 82.2
  15.7% -1.5%   -7.2% -5.0% -0.3% 3.7% 3.3%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Commercial (retail/warehouse) 84.3 86.8   87.5 93.2 104.0 111.7 116.0
  -2.4% 2.9%   0.8% 6.6% 11.5% 7.4% 3.8%
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Institutional 201.4 204.5   186.7 190.6 202.8 210.6 215.6
  8.5% 1.5%   -8.7% 2.1% 6.4% 3.9% 2.4%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Health Care 46.3 48.1   48.4 49.4 52.9 55.5 57.0
  6.5% 4.0%   0.7% 2.0% 7.1% 4.9% 2.7%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Educational 109.0 107.4   97.2 97.1 103.6 106.9 108.7
  7.6% -1.4%   -9.5% -0.1% 6.7% 3.1% 1.7%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Religious 3.7 3.5   3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.1
  6.5% -6.2%   -9.1% -2.3% -3.2% -0.2% 2.8%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Public Safety 12.0 17.9   12.7 13.8 15.2 15.7 15.8
  28.5% 48.8%   -29.2% 9.2% 10.1% 3.4% 0.1%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Amusement and Recreation 30.4 27.6   25.2 27.2 28.0 29.5 31.1
  8.4% -9.4%   -8.7% 8.0% 3.1% 5.4% 5.2%
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Engineering/Civil 348.7 351.2   347.4 382.5 417.7 442.5 462.8
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (year vs previous year) 10.1% 0.7%   -1.1% 10.1% 9.2% 5.9% 4.6%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Transportation 57.5 59.7   57.6 63.2 70.9 75.9 79.0
  7.9% 3.9%   -3.5% 9.7% 12.3% 7.0% 4.1%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Communication 22.2 22.5   21.8 22.1 23.5 25.1 26.6
  -9.4% 1.5%   -3.0% 1.3% 6.3% 6.5% 6.2%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Power 118.0 115.0   117.2 132.7 142.5 148.8 155.6
  18.5% -2.5%   1.8% 13.2% 7.4% 4.4% 4.6%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Highway and Street 99.4 99.9   96.8 102.8 110.6 118.3 124.4
  8.3% 0.5%   -3.1% 6.2% 7.5% 6.9% 5.2%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sewage/Waste Disposal & Water Supply 42.5 45.1   46.3 52.6 59.3 62.5 64.9
  7.9% 6.1%   2.5% 13.7% 12.7% 5.5% 3.8%
ÌýÌýÌýÌý     ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Conservation and Development 9.2 9.0   7.7 9.2 10.9 12.0 12.3
  11.9% -2.8%   -14.0% 19.1% 18.8% 9.8% 3.0%
    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Total Industrial/Manufacturing 81.0 72.1   74.0 80.2 89.6 95.7 100.8
11.7% -10.9%   2.6% 8.4% 11.7% 6.7% 5.3%

"Current" means not adjusted for inflation.

Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Table: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Graph 1: U.S. Grand Total Construction Spending
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Grand Total Construction Spending
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Residential

Largely due to a strong run-up in prices, the boom in U.S. homebuilding earlier this year has now lost some momentum. Also, an upsurge in renovation activity has been brought short by a huge increase (since reversed) in the price of lumber. Nevertheless, the outlook for residential construction remains above trend line to counterbalance so many years spent underneath it. ÌýÌý

Graph 2: U.S. Construction Spending: Total Residential
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Total Residential
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Lodging

The lodging sector was especially ravaged by the arrival of the coronavirus. Employment and occupancy rates plummeted. Presently, with the economy becoming more fully open again, hotels and motels are on the comeback trail. But the recovery in tourism and trade show business still has a distance to go. New capital spending won’t be a priority for a while.

Graph 3: U.S. Construction Spending: Lodging
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Lodging
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Office Buildings

Stay at home directives have been devastating the demand for office space over the past 18 months. Many companies and individuals have learned to appreciate the advantages of setting up operations in one’s own residence. Major employers seem split on whether it’s desirable to have workers return to the office full-time. The need for new space remains questionable. Ìý

Graph 4: U.S. Construction Spending: Office Buildings
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Office Buildings
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Retail, Warehouse, Restaurant

The loss in retail construction during the pandemic due to social distancing was about equally made up by the building of ultra-large distribution centers to fulfill the surge in Internet sales. The demand for warehouse space will also be boosted by a shift away from just-in-time inventory management towards keeping more key component supplies closer to hand.

Graph 5: U.S. Construction Spending: Retail, Warehouse, Restaurant
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Commercial (Retail, Warehouses, Restaurants)
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Health Care

For the past year and a half, health care has been totally committed to helping patients survive the coronavirus outbreak. Soon, it will begin re-aligning to prioritize the needs of an aging population, as the graying of ‘baby boomers’ continues. The nursing home sector will benefit from design changes to accommodate improvements such as better isolation wards. ÌýÌý

Graph 6: U.S. Construction Spending: Health Care
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Health Care
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Educational

Educational construction is facing changes tied to demographics. The births that feed into attendance at elementary schools are way down. Nor is immigration what it once was, cutting down on the arrivals of families with young children. In higher education, enrolments have suffered from a shift to online instruction and fewer foreign students.

Graph 7: U.S. Construction Spending: Educational
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Educational
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Amusement and Recreation

For theater goers, cinephiles, sports fans and casino aficionados the past year and a half has been a period of denial like none other. The appetite for returning to pleasurable outings, once the coronavirus has been thoroughly kicked to the curb, is immense. A side effect of inactivity has been a surge in savings. The spending power exists to fuel a next wave of capital spending.

Graph 8: U.S. Construction Spending: Amusement and Recreation
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Amusement and Recreation
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Transportation

Decisions concerning new transportation projects should take direction from the new working arrangements and lifestyle choices being adopted. Less commuting and less domestic and foreign travel may somewhat mute the outlook for rapid transit and airport projects, but longer-term projections of capacity constraints will spark go-aheads for many such projects, nonetheless.

Graph 9: U.S. Construction Spending: Transportation
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Transportation
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Power

Booting aside carbon emissions in electric power generation is a top goal of the Biden Administration. The Clean Energy Performance Program (CEPP) proposes incentives for utilities when they increase their ‘green’ output component; and penalties when they fail to do so. Rippling outwards from the auto sector, economies everywhere are embracing electrification. Ìý

Graph 10: U.S. Construction Spending: Power
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Power
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Highways and Streets

More roadway construction, to serve new residential communities and to provide logistical support in the faster movement of goods to markets, will feature in upcoming more aggressive infrastructure spending plans. Specialty contractors will be forming alliances with GCs to provide the traffic monitoring systems to facilitate the shift to autonomous vehicles.

Graph 11: U.S. Construction Spending: Highways and Streets
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Highways and Streets
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Water Supply; Sewage and Waste Disposal

Water and waste system investments will be dictated by repair and maintenance requirements, the building of new residential communities and efforts to mitigate the harmful effects from climate change. The imperative moving forward will be the need for ‘resilient’ infrastructure to aid in the restoration of key physical assets after extensive storm or wildfire damage.

Graph 12: Water Supply, plus Sewage & Waste Disposal Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Water Supply, plus Sewage & Waste Disposal Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Manufacturing

The current exposure of component shortages up and down supply chains (e.g., computer chips) and an experimental move towards de-globalization will spur investments in domestic manufacturing. Also, fertilizer and LNG producers will be mulling the opportunities from natural gas that is currently priced four times higher in Europe than in North America. ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Graph 13: U.S. Construction Spending: Manufacturing
Put-in-place (PIP) Investment
U.S. Construction Spending: Manufacturing
Graph includes a ‘best fit’ linear trend line.
Source of actuals: U.S. Census Bureau / Forecasts: Oxford Economics and É«ÖÐÉ«.
Chart: É«ÖÐÉ«.

Alex Carrick is Chief Economist for É«ÖÐÉ«. He has delivered presentations throughout North America on the U.S., Canadian and world construction outlooks. Mr. Carrick has been with the company since 1985. Links to his numerous articles are featured on Twitter , which has 50,000 followers.

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