Economy
Economy
October Is Federal Construction's Black Friday. Most Contractors Miss It
Federal fiscal year 2027 starts October 1 and agencies flood the street with new construction solicitations. The FY calendar, the September crunch, and how to be ready.
Danny Reeves · 2026-09-27
EconomyI Ran the Numbers on Electric Excavators. Here's Where They Actually Pencil
Electric excavators cost 2-3x diesel up front but run on $2-4/hour of electricity. A contractor breaks down the real cost-per-hour table and the five jobs where electric equipment pencils today.
DR
Danny Reeves·Sep 24, 2026
EconomyHow I Read a Federal Solicitation in 20 Minutes (and Decide If It's Winnable)
How to read a federal construction solicitation in 20 minutes. Set-aside codes, magnitude ranges, wage determinations, bond thresholds, and a go/no-go checklist.
DR
Danny Reeves·Sep 23, 2026
EconomySAM.gov Registration for Contractors: The 6-Week Slog Nobody Warns You About
SAM.gov registration for construction contractors is free but takes 2-6 weeks. UEI setup, NAICS codes, the notarized letter trap, and renewal mistakes that cost real money.
DR
Danny Reeves·Sep 23, 2026
Key Metrics
PPI materials
267.4
index↑ +6.2%YoY Mar 2026
Producer Price Index for construction materials. Measures input cost inflation for contractors.
Lumber
$487/MBF
↑ +12%Spot
Random Lengths composite price. Volatile — driven by Canadian tariffs and housing demand cycles.
Steel HRC
$820/ton
↓ -3%Spot
Hot-rolled coil steel. Key input for structural and rebar. Tariff-sensitive.
Construction GDP
+2.1%
↑ Q4 2025Quarterly
AGC confidence
58
↓ -3ptsQ1 2026
PPI Construction Materials (Index)
All Economy coverage59 articles
- UK Construction Cost Per Square Foot 2026: London at £4,100/m²2026-08-05
- Canada vs US Construction Costs 2026: Why Toronto Now Rivals Chicago2026-08-04
- US vs UK vs Germany Construction Costs 2026: Who Really Pays $500/SF?2026-07-20
- How to Estimate Site Work Costs Without a $50K Surprise2026-07-18
- OSB vs Plywood Prices 20262026-07-06
- Labor Burden Rate: How to Calculate Your True Hourly Cost2026-07-01
- Demolition Cost Per Square Foot: $4-$15/SF Commercial in 20262026-06-21
- Construction E-Verify Audits Up 340% in 2026: How to Pass Without a Stand-Down2026-05-23
- WIP Reports for Contractors: How to Stop Misjudging Profit on Active Jobs2026-05-23
- Markup vs Margin for Contractors: The Pricing Mistake That Costs You Thousands2026-04-19
- Construction Loan Interest Rates: April 2026 Update (8.4% Average)2026-04-17
- Concrete Prices 2026: $399/cy Ready-Mix, CMU Up 7%2026-04-14
- The 2026 Construction Material Cost Report: Winners and Losers2026-04-14
- Construction Overhead and Markup 2026: How to Price Your Work2026-04-14
- Copper Price 2026: $6.01/lb, Up 31% — Contractor Guide2026-04-14
- Electrical Materials Are the Sleeper Cost Bomb of 20262026-04-14
- Lumber Sits at $412/MBF — Why Framers Shouldn't Panic Yet2026-04-14
- Mechanics Lien Guide for Contractors 2026: How to Get Paid2026-04-14
- Steel Prices 2026: Rebar Up 14%, Structural Down 5%2026-04-14
- How to Estimate Construction Costs: 2026 Guide + Free Tool2026-04-13
- Construction Unemployment Rate Hits 5.3% in 2026: Analysis2026-04-12
- Material Cost Squeeze: How to Protect Margins When PPI Jumps 6.2%2026-04-12
- 2026 Tariff Impact on Construction Materials: Steel Up 18%2026-04-11
- Bonding Capacity Tightens as Surety Losses Hit $2.8 Billion2026-04-11
- Construction Bonding 101: Bid, Payment, and Performance Bonds2026-04-11
- Construction Bankruptcy Rate Hits 12-Year High in 20262026-04-11
- Construction Fleet Electrification: $4.2B Market, 2% Adoption2026-04-11
- Construction Diesel Fuel at $3.92/Gallon: Equipment Cost Impact2026-04-11
- Construction Input Costs Drop 3.2% — First Decline in 4 Years2026-04-11
- Construction Insurance Premiums Jumped 15% in 2026 — Here's Why2026-04-11
- Construction M&A Hit $28 Billion in 2025 — Are You a Target?2026-04-11
- Construction Payment Terms Worsen: DPO Now 83 Days in 20262026-04-11
- Construction Profit Margins Average 6.2% in 2026: Who's Winning2026-04-11
- Construction Technology Spending Hits $18 Billion in 20262026-04-11
- Data Center Costs 2026: $1,000-$2,000/sqft Breakdown2026-04-11
- Data Center Material Costs: Copper, Steel, and Generators2026-04-11
- Drywall Price 2026: $14.50/Sheet — Why It's Stuck High2026-04-11
- Data Center Tax Incentives by State: A Complete Guide 20262026-04-11
- How to Bid Federal Construction Contracts — A Step-by-Step Guide2026-04-11
- Lumber Prices 2026: Forecast, Tariff Impact & When to Buy2026-04-11
- Private Equity Is Buying Construction Companies. Is Yours Next?2026-04-11
- Rebar Price 2026: $0.72/lb — Why It Diverged From Steel2026-04-11
- Tariff Impact on Construction Materials: $4.8B Cost in 20262026-04-11
- The 5 Financial Metrics Every Contractor Should Track Weekly2026-04-11
- Construction Equipment Rental Market Hit $72 Billion in 20262026-04-11
- The ROI of Data Center Specialization for Your Construction Firm2026-04-11
- Window and Glass Prices Drop 8% — Supply Chain Finally Normalizes2026-04-11
- Concrete Costs Rise 11% in 2026: Cement Shortage Hits Southeast2026-04-10
- Construction Equipment Rental Market Hits $65 Billion in 20262026-04-10
- Construction Spending Forecast: $2.1 Trillion in 20262026-04-10
- Construction Insurance Costs Surge 22% in 2026: Control Premiums2026-04-10
- Nonresidential Construction Spending Falls 15% in 20262026-04-10
- Public Expenditure Examples: $550B IIJA Spending Impact2026-04-10
- Steel Prices Drop 8% to $760/Ton in 2026: Construction Impact2026-04-10
- Construction Material Costs Up 6.2%: Protecting Margins in 20262026-04-04