Materials supply chain disruptions and the mass retirement of older workers in the skilled trades—a trend that actually began in the 2010s—have forced preconstruction professionals and estimators to be more resourceful than ever. 

The U.S. Commerce Dept. on Nov. 24 followed through with expected anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber, placing tariffs of 17.99% on their imports—more than twice the 8.99% rate imposed during the Trump administration.

Pleas from Canada and from U.S. contractors fail to dissuade the Biden administration.

A slow recovery has begun following economic fallout caused by COVID-19

After declining through the summer, construction starts are set to pick up through year end

Higher prices for lumber and other wood products, driven by January's 20% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber and new tariffs on Chinese products,   will increase rebuilding costs in areas hit by Hurricane Florence.