Growth in Construction Activity, Equipment and Material Price Increases Boosts Construction Costs

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Turner Construction Company announced that the First Quarter 2013 Turner Building Cost Index — which measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States — has increased to a value of 849. This reflects a 1.19 percent increase from the fourth quarter 2012 and a 3.41 percent increase from the first quarter 2012.

“The increase in private non-residential construction spending over the past year, material and equipment prices continuing to inch upwards and a slight increase in labor rates has led to a boost in construction costs,” said Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Turner Building Cost Index.

Approximately 90 percent of Turner’s business is performed under contract arrangements where Turner provides extensive pre-construction planning services before the contract price is fixed and before construction starts. By providing pre-construction services and utilizing enhanced procurement strategies, Turner effectively manages the market risks associated with cost-related issues.

Turner has prepared the construction cost forecast for more than 80 years. Used widely by the construction industry and federal and state governments, the building costs and price trends tracked by the Turner Building Cost Index may or may not reflect regional conditions in any given quarter. The cost index is determined by several factors considered on a nationwide basis, including labor rates and productivity, material prices and the competitive condition of the marketplace. This index does not necessarily conform to other published indices because others do not generally take all of these factors into account.