{
  "query": "UK construction industry cost and schedule trends May 2026 steel sector",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction sector is expected to return to growth in 2026 and 2027 following a challenging 2025.",
      "verbatim_quote": "After a challenging 2025, industry analysts are expecting growth to return in 2026 and 2027.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Steel and metal product prices in 2026 remain highly sensitive to global energy markets and raw material costs due to the energy-intensive nature of manufacturing.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Consequently, prices for steel and metal products remain highly sensitive to fluctuations in global energy markets and raw material costs.",
      "source_url": "https://www.frank-key.co.uk/material-price-inflation-2026?srsltid=AfmBOoq51utRUHkpHtq6-pFTefVHGYzK4FuSr6cxpVtpb_UPetfEQxfe",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget, including higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, are putting pressure on construction margins in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget – higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, will undoubtedly add pressure to already tight margins.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Labour shortages in the construction sector are leading to wage inflation and extended project timelines in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Skills and workforce shortages are a significant challenge in the construction sector, leading to wage inflation and extended project timelines.",
      "source_url": "https://www.macbeths.co.uk/construction-industry-trends-to-watch-in-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The use of lower upfront embodied carbon Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel is a continuing strategy for commercial schemes in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction sector is experiencing an uneven recovery in early 2026, with new build output declining despite a growing pipeline of future work.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The UK construction sector has entered 2026 facing an uneven recovery. After a promising start to 2025, activity slowed significantly in the second half of the year, with new build output declining even as the pipeline of future work",
      "source_url": "https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026",
      "relevance": "medium"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Adaptive re-use of existing buildings through structural alterations to frames is a growing feature of the commercial office sector in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "adaptive re-use of existing building stock, via structural alterations to the existing frame, along with vertical and horizontal extensions, is a prominent feature of the commercial office sector, and this will continue to grow in 2026.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] The UK construction sector is expected to return to growth in 2026 and 2027 following a challenging 2025. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)\n- [HIGH] Steel and metal product prices in 2026 remain highly sensitive to global energy markets and raw material costs due to the energy-intensive nature of manufacturing. (source: https://www.frank-key.co.uk/material-price-inflation-2026?srsltid=AfmBOoq51utRUHkpHtq6-pFTefVHGYzK4FuSr6cxpVtpb_UPetfEQxfe)\n- [HIGH] Rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget, including higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, are putting pressure on construction margins in 2026. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)\n- [HIGH] Labour shortages in the construction sector are leading to wage inflation and extended project timelines in 2026. (source: https://www.macbeths.co.uk/construction-industry-trends-to-watch-in-2026/)\n- [HIGH] The use of lower upfront embodied carbon Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel is a continuing strategy for commercial schemes in 2026. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)\n- [MEDIUM] The UK construction sector is experiencing an uneven recovery in early 2026, with new build output declining despite a growing pipeline of future work. (source: https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026)\n- [MEDIUM] Adaptive re-use of existing buildings through structural alterations to frames is a growing feature of the commercial office sector in 2026. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)"
}