After nearly three years of relative calm, construction material prices are once again trending upward, driven primarily by sharp increases in copper and electrical components, according to recent analysis from construction cost tracking firm Gordian. During a year-end webinar, Gordian analysts said construction input prices rose in the second half of 2025, marking a notable shift from the post-pandemic period of stabilization that followed the historic cost spikes of 2020 through 2022. While labor costs increased in nominal terms, they lagged broader inflation, making materials the primary source of renewed price ... (full story)