For more than two years, the U.S. construction industry has been buffeted by unprecedented increases in materials costs, supply-chain bottlenecks, and a tight labor market. To help project owners, government officials, and the public understand how these conditions are affecting contractors and their workers, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has posted frequent updates of the Construction Inflation Alert.
Several recent developments have raised the specter of a sharp slowdown or even a recession in the U.S. economy. Inflation is at a 40-year high, sapping consumers’ purchasing power despite elevated wage increases. Major stock indexes have declined sharply—a frequent but not foolproof harbinger of recession. A growing number of companies have announced layoffs, although the job market remains vibrant, as indicated by large monthly employment increases, near-record job openings, and a persistently low unemployment rate.