Uncertainty increased global construction project pipeline costs by an average of 12.4% over the past year, equivalent to nearly $2 trillion in 2026, according to consulting firm Currie & Brown's annual Construction Certainty Index.
The report draws on a survey of more than 1,300 construction and infrastructure decision-makers across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Only 46% of respondents are confident they can meet project deadlines, while 40% expect to stay within budget. Material cost inflation was the leading project delivery challenge, cited by 70% of respondents, followed by energy price volatility at 64% and supply chain disruptions at 59%.
The effects are already apparent: Respondents reported that 30% of projects were delayed over the past year, 27% were reduced in scope and 31% of potential projects stalled before construction or beyond the planning stage.
The report also found that 32% of respondents belong to organizations that strategically invest in artificial intelligence, digital technology, data analytics, sustainability and workforce training. These organizations were more likely to express confidence in meeting deadlines, at 58%, compared with 41% of other respondents.
