Construction Labor Cost Rise Moves ahead of Materials in Latest Quarter

 |  from Building Team Forecast Top Headlines

According to the latest measurements of construction costs calculated by RSMeans, the rise in U.S. labor rates (+2.3%) quarter to quarter in July 2007 (i.e., versus April 2007) was a little higher than it was for material inputs (+2.0%). During the latest construction cycle, material costs have almost always increased faster than the installation or labor component. The latest result suggests that contractors will have to pay more attention to labor markets in the period ahead.