Retail Construction Outlook

Insight into the outlook for this critically important nonresidential sector

Introduction

Retail construction does not get much attention but it is critical to a recovery in private, nonresidential cement and concrete consumption. It accounts for 65% of total nonresidential cement and concrete consumption[1] and 12% of total cement consumption. Among the key consuming sectors, it ranks only behind highways and streets and single family as the leading cement and concrete consumer.

The sector has been in decline for some time. Of the total 5.3% decline in total cement and concrete consumption in 2024, the retail sector’s decline accounted for nearly a quarter of the decline. It is hard to visualize a recovery in nonresidential cement consumption without a recovery in this important sector. This report assesses the outlook for retail construction and its role in determining the depths of 2025’s decline in cement and concrete construction as well as the timing and strength of recovery that may materialize in 2026 and beyond.

If planning is important to your business, check out my The Sullivan Report forecasts thesullivanreport.com