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.

CPI eases to 3.0% YoY as Fed prepares rate cuts; lower yields and a 2026 construction recovery take shape amid ongoing government shutdown.

With Jerome Powell’s term as Chair ending in 2026, the direction of monetary policy—and its impact on interest rates, inflation, and construction—may hinge on his successor.

The shutdown crisis escalates: government RIF plans signal permanent layoffs, amplifying risks of lost spending, weak confidence, and lasting economic harm.

Recent evidence suggests the U.S. economy may be drifting toward a slower growth path - becoming fragile. While job numbers can be volatile, job growth is slowing and trend toward further weakening. There are signs consumer is struggling under the weight of inflation.