Utility Dive•3 months ago
Tariffs drove construction input prices up to start 2026
- •Nonresidential construction input prices rose at a 'blistering' annualized rate of 7.1% in January 2026.
- •Key material costs saw dramatic year-over-year increases: Copper up 80%, Iron and Steel up 58%, and Switchgear up 67%.
- •These cost escalations, attributed to tariffs, will significantly increase CAPEX for new power generation, transmission infrastructure, and large industrial/datacenter facility construction.
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