Washington was a key driver of second-quarter energy costs, with political moves affecting power sources from oil to solar.

Citing pent-up demand, Portland Cement Association chief economist Edward Sullivan say he expects to see a 5% growth in portland cement consumption in 2016, with a further 5.7% growth of growth in 2017. This is an improvement over the growth rate from 2015, which was only 3.5%. 

ARTBA is forecasting real market growth of 3.6% for both highway and bridge construction in 2016.

After a tentative start, the construction recovery hit full stride this year, and it is expected to keep pace in 2016, according to economists surveyed by ENR.