Industry News & Trends Economy

The Construction Economy Brief for July 2026

By Julie Riley, Social Media Manager 

ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes hosts a monthly video series in which he breaks down the key issues impacting the North American construction economy in under 3 minutes.

Nonresidential construction is booming in 2026. Through May, total nonresidential construction starts reached $368 billion, up $56 billion, or 18%, from the prior year.

In this July 2026 Construction Economy Brief, Michael Guckes, Chief Economist at ConstructConnect, breaks down the latest construction starts data and shares ConstructConnect’s newest data center starts and put-in-place forecast.

In this episode of the Construction Economy Brief you'll find out about:

  • Why nonresidential construction growth is running at its fastest pace since COVID

  • How data centers and related work are helping drive today’s market

  • ConstructConnect’s latest 2026 forecast for $129 billion in data center starts and more than $58 billion in put-in-place activity

  • Why data center starts could peak above $150 billion in 2029, with put-in-place activity not catching up until 2030 or later

Get the latest on nonresidential construction growth and data center spending trends from Chief Economist Michael Guckes.

Watch the July 2026 Construction Economy Brief

Stay Connected

Stay connected with ConstructConnect News for construction industry news and construction market analysis to stay ahead of what’s building next.

About ConstructConnect

At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.

ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.  

For more information, visit constructconnect.com
Julie Riley, Social Media Manager
Julie Riley is an award‑winning social media strategist with 15+ years of digital marketing experience, leading B2B social media for ConstructConnect in the preconstruction software industry. She has built and nurtured online communities for brands like StreamYard, Social Media Examiner, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, with a track record of turning insights into measurable growth. As an international keynote speaker, Julie regularly shares practical, data‑driven strategies with marketers and business leaders around the world. When she writes about construction and the economy, she focuses on making complex topics approachable and relevant for contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers. She breaks down in‑depth research and market commentary into clear, digestible insights that busy construction professionals can quickly understand and use.
Next

RELATED NEWS