Glass and Glazing Sees Strong Gains in November

Architectural glass-related nonresidential construction spending jumped again in November for a second-straight month of double-digit-percentage growth.

The value of glass and glazing activity increased by more than 13% year-over-year on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to Key Media & Research (KMR), a leading information provider to the glass industry.

KMR’s glass and glazing activity figures are adapted and modified from private and public construction spending data, with proprietary weighting and models applied to industry-relevant subsectors.

On a month-to-month basis, overall nonresidential glass and glazing activity was flat from September.

“The November numbers are encouraging, especially building off of an already solid year-over-year increase in October,” says Nick St. Denis, KMR’s director of research. “Virtually all of the key building segments most important to the glass industry showed exceptional growth. While the volume of work appears to be holding strong, the nominal dollar value of glass-related construction is increasing due to improved pricing and attempts to offset cost increases in materials.”

Commercial glass and glazing-related spending increased by nearly 17% year-over-year. Office construction showed moderate gains, while lodging and the remaining commercial sectors spiked by 30% and 20%, respectively.

Healthcare and educational building activity strengthened, helping institutional glass and glazing activity to increase by just under 9%.

Nick St. Denis is the director of research for Key Media & Research, parent company of USGlass magazine and USGNN™. For more detailed insights, subscribe to his free quarterly glass and glazing update HERE.