Apr 16, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Principia Consulting’s Coverage on COVID-19 Impact on Residential Construction Activity

Principia Consulting has initiated COVID-19 coverage to track and calibrate the impact of the coronavirus on residential construction down to the zip code level. This update provides interactive views of the rapidly changing market for new home construction. Future updates will also include remodeling and repair and specific building product category impacts from the coronavirus. This analysis is fluid and will continue to evolve as COVID-19 progresses throughout the country and government restrictions are added or lifted.

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*Data as of April 13, 2020 (Graphic: Business Wire)

*Data as of April 13, 2020 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Cities and states throughout the country are issuing stay-at-home (SAH) and shelter-in-place (SIP) ordinances specifying which businesses, including construction, are essential and non-essential. These ordinances are having an ongoing effect on construction activity and building products demand.

The United States was projected to build 2.7 billion square feet of new residential construction in 2020 prior to the impact of COVID-19. A complete review of the ordinances enacted to date shows the impact on construction activity by geography and the potential influence on building product demand and distribution. A few major takeaways include:

  • 4% of projected construction activity is in municipalities not currently under any legal restriction
  • 17% of projected activity is currently in municipalities that are prohibiting most forms of construction
  • 32% of multifamily activity falls within localities prohibiting most construction

Very few unaffected municipalities remain. Most affected areas are currently along the Pacific Coast, North Atlantic Coast, and Great Lakes regions.

Principia’s ongoing COVID-19 coverage will monitor the impact on residential construction and building product demand including:

  • Frequent updates on government restrictions relating to construction activity
  • Estimates of the impact of COVID-19 on construction activity segmented by:
    • Single family vs. multifamily
    • New construction, discretionary remodeling, and emergency repair
  • Scenario analysis on impact of COVID-19 over time

In addition to tracking SAH/SIP ordinances, Principia is working to independently verify the status of construction exemptions while simultaneously monitoring COVID-19 case data to determine the impact on residential construction. Our research team is applying its econometric modeling to evaluate the impact on construction in each hot spot based on the timing of the start of the spread and the likely duration within each area.

About Principia Consulting

Principia Consulting is a leading research and consulting firm focused exclusively on the building materials and construction industry. For over 25 years, the company has helped its clients grow faster and more profitably by providing high-quality information, analytics, and insights. For more information on this subscription service, visit https://www.principiaconsulting.com/research-products/covid-19-coverage/.