Half of construction and design firms expect a good to very good year ahead, even as near-term conditions vary by sector. That’s the news according to Houzz Inc., a software platform for construction and design. The company’s Q1 2026 U.S. Houzz Pro Industry Barometer indicates that a moderately positive outlook outweighs negative expectations for 2026 in the construction sector, where 56% anticipate a good to very good year, 28% expect business conditions to remain stable and 16% anticipate weaker performance than last year.
Sentiment among the design services sector is more mixed, with 50% expecting a good to very good year, 35% reporting a neutral outlook and the remaining 15% anticipating poorer business performance in 2026 vs. 2025.
“Construction and design businesses are heading into 2026 with a measured but resilient outlook,” said Marine Sargsyan, head of economic research at Houzz. “While expectations for the broader national economy remain subdued, and cost and labor pressures persist, many firms anticipate stable demand for their projects. To drive revenue growth in 2026, businesses are adjusting their strategies by raising prices, prioritizing larger and higher-value projects, and investing in employee productivity.”
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