After Years of Stability, Construction Materials Costs Are Heating up Again

January 26, 2026

Construction input prices rose again in the second half of 2025, though some materials fared better than others, according to a webinar from construction cost tracking firm Gordian. The increases mark a change after nearly three years of relative stability following a pandemic-era surge in costs, and that trend could continue in 2026, according to Gordian. Rather than labor costs, which jumped in nominal terms but lagged broader inflation, the increase in input costs stems primarily from materials. Inputs such as copper and electrical components, key to data center construction, posted the sharpest gains.

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