According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential building workers’ wage growth remained subdued in the first quarter of 2026, a reflection of easing construction activity and labor demand. Wages remain strong relative to other industries, at 8.4% higher than the manufacturing sector, 22.4% higher than the transportation and warehousing sector and 3.6% lower than the mining and logging sector. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted wage gains remained calm. Average hourly earnings for residential building workers increased 2.1% year-over-year in March, down from the 9.4% peak in mid-2024.…
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Building materials see price increase
According to the most recent Producer Price Index (PPI), prices of building materials used in residential construction were up 3.7% in April. Soaring energy prices caused a spike in the overall April PPI reading to 6% compared to last year. Including energy, the price index for inputs to new residential construction was up 5.9% from last year, with the price of goods used in new residential construction up 6.1% from last year. Among input goods, the largest year-over-year increase was for No. 2 diesel fuel as prices were 74.4% higher than…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Ben Quie & Sons
Minnesota-based Ben Quie & Sons brought a traditional, historic bathroom into the 21st century while still preserving its classic charm. The original footprint created a series of constraints that limited how the space could function. By removing the oversized tub, the builder was able to shift the shower into a more intentional location and tuck the toilet away, giving the layout a clearer sense of order and privacy. Replacing the heavily contrasted palette with a simplified one, as well as natural materials, allowed finishes to work with the light, rather than…
Read MoreHomeowners choose remodeling their forever home over moving
Across the nation, more homeowners are embracing the “Forever Renovation,” a continuous cycle of upgrading, adapting, improving and reimagining their homes over time. Real estate expert Philip A. Raices discussed several trends that are driving this transformation in the renovation industry. The biggest reason for the driving change is economic; millions of homeowners have locked in mortgage rates between 2% and 4%. For many families, moving would mean substantially higher monthly payments and higher insurance costs. As a result, homeowners are increasingly choosing to improve their forever home rather than…
Read MoreU.S. home builder sentiment increases in May
Home builder sentiment increased in May across the U.S. This month, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose to 37, up from 34 in April. About 32% of builders cut prices in May as a sale incentive to potential homebuyers. The price cut was down from 36% in April, with an average price reduction of 6%, versus 5% in April. The use of sales incentives was 61% in May, up from 60% in April, the 14th straight month at 60% or higher. The survey’s measure of current…
Read MoreNAHB analyzes renovation spending
A recent analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) examined how remodeling spending varies across household characteristics, including household type, householder age, generational cohort and household income. In 2024, homeowners spent around $670 billion on home remodeling projects. Roughly 20 million households, representing 23% of all owner-occupied households, reported remodeling expenditures during the year. Married-couple households accounted for the majority of remodeling activity in 2024, both in the number of households reporting projects and the highest amount of spending. Around 60% of all households that reported a remodeling…
Read MoreFollow us on social media
For the past 20 years, Builder Media has served residential contractors, homebuilders, architects, designers, remodelers and other industry professionals as a national B2B publication. We are currently expanding our social media presence, posting the latest industry news and featured content from our magazines on Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Facebook. Now, we ask you to show your support by following us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest residential construction news and stories. As always, we thank our readers for their continued support and thank those who subscribe to our…
Read MoreResidential Contractor digital issue coming summer 2026
First launched in the summer of 2006, Residential Contractor has grown to include design + build, remodeling and trade professionals across the U.S. A trusted source of news and content on craftsmanship in new builds, remodels, building material prices, estimating and need-to-know information for busy professionals. Supported by our weekly newsletter, Remodeler.News and residentialcontractormag.com, these platforms combined boast an audience of 160,000 industry professionals. ABC Green Home 5.0 TerraVerde, our next hybrid net-zero demonstration home celebrates an award-winning legacy and high-performance construction while demonstrating how cutting-edge design and building…
Read MoreMass timber industry offers jobs and sustainability
Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) produced a primer, “Mass Timber: Advancing Sustainable Construction and High-Quality Job Creation,” and presented it at an event held at the Hyatt Place Albany-Downtown in New York on May 11, 2026. The primer focused on the industry’s ability to produce job growth and provide sustainability in construction. The global mass timber market is projected to grow to over $1.3 billion by 2030, with the U.S. poised to become the world’s fastest-growing mass timber market over the coming decade. “Mass timber is more than an alternative,…
Read MoreResidential leads U.S. construction spending
According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America, U.S. construction spending increased 0.6% from February to March, with gains in residential construction and data center-related projects. Residential construction spending rose 3.6% compared with a year earlier, including a 2.7% monthly increase in single-family construction. Total construction spending reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.186 trillion in March, up 1.6% from March 2025. Private construction spending increased 0.8% for the month and 1.0% year over year, while multifamily construction increased 0.5% year over year. Association officials noted,…
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