據IHS Markit調查公司（NYSE:INFO）采購執行小組（PEG）數據，被調查者均認為工程造價的下滑壓力將持續整個秋季，導致行業對造價的未來預期達到歷史新低。
經過連續41個月的增長后，建筑工程造價在今年4月份首次出現了下跌，繼3月份勉強位于基準指數后，4月份的造價指數為34.9，建筑材料和設備造價指數為35.2，分包商造價指數為34.3，均位于50的基準指數之下。
建筑材料和設備價格指數為35.2，不僅顯示著該數值連續兩個月的下跌，也表示該數值達到了歷史新低。調查顯示，與3月份相比，在建筑材料和設備12個分項中，除預制混凝土價格處于基準指數外，其余11項價格均有下跌。在建筑設備中，除轉換機外，其余設備的價格均從3月份的上漲變成了4月份的下跌。結構鋼、合金鋼管、碳鋼管等材料的價格更是達到了自2012年指數調查開始以來的最低。而目前調查顯示的結果只表明4月份價格下跌，并不能確定價格不會繼續探底。
“建筑工程造價指數的快速下滑反映出美國經濟的快速衰退，尤其是自1月份以來能源行業的衰退”，HIS Markit公司價格和采購調研主管約翰·馬瑟索爾說，“HIS Markit公司并不認為二季度的油價已經探底，這表明，美國經濟的復蘇將會是一個漫長的過程，將持續到2021年”。
分包商的人力成本指數3月份為52.0，4月份降為34.3。與材料和設備相同，美國和加拿大的人力成本也均達到了自2012年指數調查開始以來的最低。
在經過連續43個月的增長后，建筑工程造價半年總體預期指數于今年4月份首次下降，位于42.1，IHS Markit調查公司PEG小組進行此項調查追蹤后的又一新低。建筑材料、設備和人力預期價格均下跌。3月份，材料和設備的半年預期指數為57.6，4月份降為了40.7，其它所有分項的半年預期價格指數也均下降。4月份的人力成本預期指數為45.2，美國中西部地區的人力成本價格有望在接下來的6個月內有所增長，西部地區仍舊不景氣，走勢平平，而在加拿大、美國南部和東南部，人力成本價格將繼續下跌。
調查還發現，受新冠肺炎影響，建筑市場需求有所縮減。（翻譯：中國建筑業協會）
COVID-19 Impact Sends Engineering and Construction Costs Negative for First Time Since November 2016, IHS Markit Says
文章來源：IHS Markit 網站，Expectations for future construction costs reached all time low as respondents see negative cost pressures continuing through fall
April 29, 2020
NEW YORK (April 29, 2020) – After 41 consecutive monthly increases, Engineering and Construction costs fell in April, according to (NYSE: INFO) and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG). The current headline registered 34.9 in April, after staying barely neutral in March. The materials and equipment portion of the index came in at 35.2 and the sub-contractor portion came in at 34.3; any figure below 50 indicates falling prices.
The materials and equipment sub-index registered 35.2, recording both the second consecutive month of falling prices and an all-time low. Survey respondents reported falling prices for 11 out of the 12 components with only ready-mix prices coming in at neutral. Index figures for all categories dropped relative to March, indicating that a greater proportion of the respondents are observing lower prices. With the exception of exchangers, all equipment categories moved from increasing prices in March to falling prices in April. For categories such as fabricated steel, alloy steel pipe and carbon steel pipe, April’s diffusion index reading was the lowest since the survey started in 2012. This does not mean that respondents saw the lowest prices in April, merely that most companies surveyed observed falling prices.
“The sharp decline recorded in the index highlights the rapid deterioration in the U.S. economy and, more specifically, in the energy industry since January,” said , director of research at IHS Markit pricing and purchasing. “IHS Markit does see a bottom for oil prices in the second quarter. This said, the recovery in the U.S. economy looks to be sluggish and extend well into 2021.”
The sub-index for current subcontractor labor costs came in at 34.3 in April. Responders had noted rising prices in March, with an index figure of 52.0. Labor costs fell in all regions of the United States as well as Canada. Similar to materials and equipment sub-index, this was the lowest ever reading since the survey started in 2012.
After 43 months of consecutive increases, the six-month headline expectations for future construction costs fell in April with an index figure of 42.1, yet another all-time low for the IHS Markit PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index. Both the materials/equipment and labor subcomponents recorded expectations of future price decreases. The six-month materials and equipment expectations index came in at 40.7 this month, down from 57.6 last month, with responders expecting falling prices for all categories. Expectations for sub-contractor labor slipped to 45.2 in April. While the U.S. Midwest is expected to see higher labor costs in six months, labor costs are expected to stay flat in the U.S. West. Labor costs in Canada, U.S. South and U.S. Northeast are expected to keep falling.
In the survey comments, respondents noted lower demand conditions due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
