{
  "query": "UK construction cost trends 2024-2026 steel industry benchmarks",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "The price of concrete reinforcing bars (steel) in the UK decreased by 7.2% in the 12 months leading up to February 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Concrete reinforcing bars (steel) | -7.2",
      "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction industry is projected to grow by 2.2% in real terms in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The construction industry in the UK is expected to grow in real terms by 2.2% in 2026",
      "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The material price index for 'All work' in the UK construction sector increased by 2.1% in February 2026 compared to February 2025.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The material price index for ‘All work’: increased by 2.1% in February 2026 compared with February 2025",
      "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "In early 2025, the 'all work' construction price index reached 151.8 points, significantly higher than the 2020 value of 110.6 points.",
      "verbatim_quote": "the early 2025 “all work” construction price index reading of 151.8 points compares very unfavourably with the 2020-value of 110.6 points",
      "source_url": "https://www.tmhcc.com/en/news-and-articles/thought-leadership/uk-construction-sector-report-december-2025",
      "relevance": "medium"
    },
    {
      "claim": "New order inflow for 'private industrial' work in the UK expanded by 100.8% year-on-year in Q3 2025.",
      "verbatim_quote": "“private industrial” (+100.8% y/y) saw even more rapid new order inflow",
      "source_url": "https://www.tmhcc.com/en/news-and-articles/thought-leadership/uk-construction-sector-report-december-2025",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] The price of concrete reinforcing bars (steel) in the UK decreased by 7.2% in the 12 months leading up to February 2026. (source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026)\n- [HIGH] The UK construction industry is projected to grow by 2.2% in real terms in 2026. (source: https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/)\n- [HIGH] The material price index for 'All work' in the UK construction sector increased by 2.1% in February 2026 compared to February 2025. (source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026)\n- [MEDIUM] In early 2025, the 'all work' construction price index reached 151.8 points, significantly higher than the 2020 value of 110.6 points. (source: https://www.tmhcc.com/en/news-and-articles/thought-leadership/uk-construction-sector-report-december-2025)\n- [MEDIUM] New order inflow for 'private industrial' work in the UK expanded by 100.8% year-on-year in Q3 2025. (source: https://www.tmhcc.com/en/news-and-articles/thought-leadership/uk-construction-sector-report-december-2025)"
}