据IHS Markit调查公司（NYSE:INFO）采购执行小组（PEG）数据，建筑设备价格走低将持续到2020年4季度。
5月份的建筑工程造价指数为38.2，略高于上月的34.9，但仍位于50的中间值以下，建筑材料和设备的造价指数为35.0，分包商人力价格指数为45.7。
材料和设备价格已连续三个月下降，12个分项中的9项价格走低，只有预制混凝土价格上升。海运（从亚洲到美国及从欧洲到美国）的价格走势平平，结构钢、合金钢管、碳钢管、铜线和铜质电缆等材料的价格较4月份稍有增长，这表明，虽然绝大多数建筑材料的价格持续下降，仍有少数的价格已呈增长态势。另一方面，建筑设备的指数数据较4月份继续下降，下降幅度较之前更大。
“设备价格的普遍下跌说明随着油价下跌，很多公司被迫节省开支，尤其是在新建项目上，由此也反映出能源行业的发展趋势” HIS Markit公司高级经济师托马斯·麦卡廷说“这导致承包基础设施建设的工程总承包（EPC）单位对工程设备需求的减少，以及能源行业对精密设备需求的减少”。
5月份建筑人力成本指数为45.7，相较上个月34.3的数值稍有回升。美国南部和东北部人力价格有上升，中西部和西部该价格下降，在加拿大东部和西部价格均下降。
5月份的建筑业造价半年预期指数下跌至42.0，再次刷新IHS Markit调查公司PEG小组进行此项调查追踪后的最低值。建筑材料、设备和人力价格预期均下滑。4月份材料设备价格半年预期指数为40.7，5月份下降到39.9。4月份人力成本半年预期值为45.2，5月份稍有提升，位于46.9。
美国东北部较为乐观，人力价格期望在六个月内能有所回升，南部地区预计人力价格依然走平，在美国中西部及西部预计将继续下跌。
调查再次显示，受新冠肺炎影响，建筑市场需求有所缩减。（翻译：yabo在线官网(中国)官方网站）
Collapse in Demand Due to COVID-19 Weakens Engineering and Construction Equipment Prices in May, According to IHS Markit
Survey respondents see lower prices continuing into the fourth quarter of 2020
May 27, 2020
NEW YORK (May 27, 2020) – Engineering and Construction costs fell in May, according to IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG). The current headline IHS Markit PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index registered 38.2 in May, a slight increase over last month’s figure of 34.9, but still well below the neutral mark of 50, indicating falling prices. The materials and equipment portion of the index came in at 35.0 with the sub-contractor portion at 45.7.
The materials and equipment sub-index recorded the third consecutive month of falling prices. Survey respondents reported falling prices for nine out of the 12 components with only ready-mix prices increasing. Ocean freight (from Asia to The United States and Europe to The United States) prices stayed flat. Index prices for fabricated steel, alloy steel pipe and carbon steel, copper wire and cable, were higher relative to April, though still in contraction territory in May, illustrating that although the majority of respondents noted falling prices, there were few responders who registered price increases. On the other hand, index figures for equipment fell relative to April, with falling prices more widely observed in these categories.
“The widespread declines in equipment prices reflect broad energy industry trends as low oil prices have forced companies to reduce spending, especially on new projects,” said Thomas McCartin, senior economist at IHS Markit. “This had led to lower equipment demand from engineering, procurement and construction firms that build infrastructure and refining facilities in the energy industry.”
The sub-index for current subcontractor labor costs came in at 45.7 in May, a slight uptick from April’s low of 34.3. Labor costs rose in the U.S. Northeast and South; they fell in the U.S. Midwest and West. Labor costs fell in both Eastern and Western Canada.
The six-month headline expectations for future construction costs fell in May to 42.0, yet another all-time low for the IHS Markit PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index. Both the materials/equipment and labor subcomponents recorded expectations of future price decreases. The six-month materials and equipment expectations index came in at 39.9 this month(May), down from 40.7 last month(April), with responders expecting falling prices for nine out of 12 categories. Expectations for sub-contractor labor registered 46.9 in May, a slight uptick from 45.2 in April. While the U.S. Northeast is expected to see higher labor costs in six months, labor costs are expected to stay flat in the U.S. South. Labor costs in Canada, the U.S. Midwest and U.S. West are expected to keep falling.
In the survey comments, respondents noted lower demand conditions due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
