Second Quarter 2026 | Segment Focus: Building Materials
Real GDP and construction GDP both rose in Q1 2026, increasing 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively, from Q1 2025. June labor data were mixed: the national unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.2%, while construction unemployment rose more sharply to 4.7%. Residential and highway spending, industrial production, and all three tracked commodity input-price indexes increased year-over-year, while non-residential spending declined.
