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The latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the construction sector added 33,000 jobs in January, bringing total construction employment to more than 8.3 million workers nationwide. The gain represents one of the largest monthly increases since mid-2023 and was driven largely by hiring among nonresidential specialty trade contractors.

The upward pricing trend that carried into the new year is continuing through February and into March, with a steady stream of plumbing, hydronic, HVAC and PVF manufacturers announcing increases. While many adjustments are landing in the low- to mid-single-digit range, several manufacturers are implementing category-specific or “various” increases, with select product lines moving higher.

On February 25, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Don’t Mess with my Home Appliances Act, 217-190 with bipartisan votes. HARDI applauds the passage of legislation to repeal the use of the date of installation as the compliance deadline for regional energy efficiency standards.

At issue are DOE’s efficiency standards that would require furnaces and some commercial water heaters to change venting features to accommodate condensation caused by fuel combustion. HARDI and its partners argue that the DOE’s action undermines long-standing statutory protections designed to preserve consumer choice and maintain access to affordable and reliable heating options, particularly in replacement situations that do not meet the more complex venting requirements.

In a statement following President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman emphasized that while the construction industry remains resilient, affordability pressures and policy uncertainty are weighing on contractors across market segments.

The ruling invalidates the administration’s across-the-board emergency tariffs, including the baseline 10% global duties that had applied to a wide range of imported goods, including those heavily relied on by the PHCP-PVF  supply chain, such as imported components, castings, steel, aluminum, electronics and finished equipment. 

After a three-year slump, multifamily property sales rebounded in 2025, increasing 15%, as fresh supply came on to the market. This turnaround was broad-based with 80% of metros seeing an increase in sales compared to only 20% of metros in 2024. 

The trend for older home owners to age-in-place has positively contributed to the growth in the remodeling market. The RMI survey showed that 56% of remodelers are involved in home modification work relating to aging-in-place and that 96% of remodelers said that most or some of their consumers are familiar with the aging-in-place concept.