{
  "query": "UK construction inflation and steel sector cost trends 2026",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "The annual price inflation for construction materials in the UK for 'All work' was 2.1% in the 12 months to February 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "| All work | 2.1 | 0.4 | Download data for table 1: construction material price indices, ye",
      "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Concrete reinforcing bars (steel) saw a price decrease of 7.2% in the 12 months 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 BCIS All-in Tender Price Index (TPI) recorded an annual growth of 2.8% in the first quarter of 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The BCIS All-in Tender Price Index (TPI), which measures the trend of contractors’ pricing levels in accepted tenders, i.e. the cost to client at commit to build, saw annual growth of 2.8% in 1Q2026.",
      "source_url": "https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Material costs for steel are projected to continue rising through to 2030.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Material costs, particularly for insulation, timber, and steel, are projected to rise further through to 2030, prompting firms to rethink procurement strategies and build greater resilience into project budgets.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Building costs are forecast to increase by 14% over the five-year period starting from 1Q2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Building costs are forecast to increase by 14% over the next five years, while tender prices are expected to rise by 15% over the same period, according to BCIS’s latest construction forecast data.",
      "source_url": "https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Construction cost inflation is expected to remain moderate in the near term for 2026, though rising commodity and energy prices pose risks.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Construction cost inflation is expected to remain moderate in the near term due to soft demand and competitive pressure across supply chains. However, rising commodity and energy prices, labour shortages, and increased infrastructure investment could create renewed inflationary pressure as market activity strengthens.",
      "source_url": "https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026",
      "relevance": "medium"
    },
    {
      "claim": "UK construction material price indices for new housing rose by 3.4% between February 2025 and February 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "| New housing | 3.4 | 0.1 |",
      "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] The annual price inflation for construction materials in the UK for 'All work' was 2.1% in the 12 months 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] Concrete reinforcing bars (steel) saw a price decrease of 7.2% in the 12 months 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 BCIS All-in Tender Price Index (TPI) recorded an annual growth of 2.8% in the first quarter of 2026. (source: https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/)\n- [HIGH] Material costs for steel are projected to continue rising through to 2030. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)\n- [HIGH] Building costs are forecast to increase by 14% over the five-year period starting from 1Q2026. (source: https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/)\n- [MEDIUM] Construction cost inflation is expected to remain moderate in the near term for 2026, though rising commodity and energy prices pose risks. (source: https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026)\n- [MEDIUM] UK construction material price indices for new housing rose by 3.4% between February 2025 and February 2026. (source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-march-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-march-2026)"
}