The Sullivan Report’s Fall/Winter 2025 Economic Forecast reveals weaker demand, elevated inflation, and unresolved labor and federal funding challenges – potentially heightening risks and slowing construction recovery into late 2026.

The 2025 federal government shutdown ended after six weeks with a short-term funding deal - through Jan. 2026 - delaying key issues but causing modest GDP and construction funding impacts.

U.S. cement and construction markets face another year of contraction given inflation's impact on highway construction, a broken Highway Trust Fund, and IIJA replacements.

Oil prices are expected to decline this year and next which will impact inflation, consumer spending, some regional economic performances, drilling activity, and oil-well cement consumption in the United States. Each of these factors impact the near-term outlook for the economy and cement consumption.

According to The Sullivan Report, of the total 5.3% drop in 2024 total cement and concrete consumption, retail construction accounted for nearly 1/4 of the decline. Tracking retail construction is critical to assessing the economic impact of the downturn in 2025 cement and concrete construction - and tracking the potential timing and recovery that may materialize in 2026.

Two reports released recently suggest single-family construction may be headed for a larger correction than many expected. Even though the builder confidence in NAHB Homebuilder Confidence for July 2025 showed a one-point improvement, it now stands at 38 – extremely pessimistic.

With the passing of OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated $46.5 billion for “physical barriers” along the Mexican border including walls, fencing, pedestrian and vehicle barriers, security access roads, and surveillance equipment. As The Sullivan Report notes, one aspect of OBBBA is how the building of The Wall will have a positive impact on the 2025 - 2030 economic forecast for cement and concrete consumption.

Even if rate cuts materialize at the September 2025 FOMC meeting, given lags, the impacts probably won’t materialize until after the peak construction season (April thru August) has passed. If so, real private construction will take a step back in 2025.