Reconstruction cost growth continues at a steady rate

July 15, 2019 / 2 min read

Verisk recently released its latest 360Value^® Quarterly Cost Update, which offers an overview of current reconstruction cost trends at the national and state/provincial levels for the United States and Canada from July 2018 to July 2019.

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U.S. cost increases hold steady

Total reconstruction costs, including materials and retail labor, increased 3.7 percent at the national level in the United States from July 2018 to July 2019, consistent with the 3.9 percent growth seen from April 2018 to April 2019.

Reconstruction costs increased in all states, with the highest changes seen in Maryland, Minnesota, and Idaho, at 6.1 percent, 5.7 percent, and 5.6 percent, respectively.

The materials component of costs included a significant outlier in the lumber category, which saw a negative 11.3 percent change on the heels of a recent upward surge in prices.

View the full report and map for the United States.

Cost growth rate continues to decline in Canada

In Canada, at the national level, total costs increased 2.5 percent from July 2018 to July 2019, revealing a pattern of declining cost growth rates. During the second quarter of 2019 (April through June), reconstruction costs were up 0.5 percent.

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All ten provinces experienced reconstruction cost increases in the latest reporting period. Costs in Ontario grew the most, at 4.4 percent, while Manitoba and Saskatchewan tied for the smallest increase, at 1.4 percent. The cost update for Canada indicates that the top three, in addition to Ontario, include British Columbia and Newfoundland at 3.8 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

As in the United States, lumber costs ran counter to the overall materials trend, with a negative 3.5 percent change.

View the full report and map for Canada.

About 360Value Quarterly Cost Updates

360Value Quarterly Cost Updates provide current, localized, and detailed cost data on reconstruction labor and building materials—information that’s essential for creating reliable, component-based replacement cost estimates. The reports feature detailed graphics that make the information easy to understand and use. You get information on six key types of materials and six top labor categories.