Global Construction Costs Surge by Nearly $2 Trillion Due to Uncertainty

Currie & Brown's annual Construction Certainty Index has revealed that global uncertainty has added an average of 12.4% to construction project costs in 2026, translating to almost $2 trillion. This research is based on a survey of over 1,300 decision-makers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Confidence in meeting project targets has waned. Only 46% believe they can meet deadlines, and just 40% feel secure about adhering to budgets—a decline from previous years. Key issues affecting project delivery include material cost inflation, energy price volatility, and supply chain disruption.

Projects have faced significant delays, with 30% postponed and 27% scaled back. Uncertainty also halted progress on a further 31% of initiatives. Despite these challenges, higher-maturity organizations, which invest in AI and digital technologies, show greater resilience and confidence in managing disruptions.