Data Scope & Methodology
Construction Output — Global Overview
Construction volume for around 170 countries — updated quarterly, forecast horizon through 2029.
Why GBM is unique
Most construction data providers cover a handful of countries with annual updates. GBM delivers permits and completions by building type for 75+ countries, construction volumes for every country worldwide, and all relevant macroeconomic drivers — refreshed 4 times per year. Your planning models always reflect the latest reality.
75+ Countries: Permits & Completions
Building permits and completions broken down by building type (residential, non-residential, renovation) for over 75 countries. The earliest and most granular construction indicators.
All Countries: Construction Volume
Total construction output forecasts for every country worldwide — not just the major markets. From Germany to Ghana, from the US to Uzbekistan.
What GBM contains
From building permits to completions, construction volumes, and macroeconomic drivers — all key layers of construction activity in one dataset.
Building Permits
Residential and non-residential permits by building type for 75+ countries. The earliest indicator of future construction activity. Forecasts updated quarterly.
Construction Completions
Completed buildings by type for 75+ countries — the moment when most building products are installed. The key driver for your sales forecasts.
Construction Volume
Total construction output for every country worldwide. Residential, non-residential, renovation. Forecasts to 2029, refreshed quarterly.
Macro Drivers Included
GDP, interest rates, unemployment, house prices, population, and more — all the variables you need to build and calibrate your own demand models.
Macroeconomic Drivers
GBM includes all key macroeconomic variables that drive construction activity — ready to plug into your own forecasting models.
Who uses GBM
International Building Product Suppliers
Companies use GBM as the foundation for their internal demand planning. GBM provides the construction activity data they need to forecast product sales across all their markets.
Strategy Consulting & Private Equity
Leading consulting firms and investors rely on GBM for market sizing, due diligence, and strategic analysis. GBM delivers the construction forecasts that underpin their client recommendations.
Data Sources & Indicator Definitions
GBM combines trusted international and national data with B+L’s proprietary forecast models to deliver one consistent and comparable view of global construction markets.
Primary Sources
National Statistical Offices (NSO)
For the following countries, official statistics from the respective national statistical office are directly incorporated into GBM:
Overview & Indicator definitions
Building Types
- Residential — Single-family houses: detached, semi-detached, terraced, holiday homes
- Residential — Multi-family houses: buildings with 3 or more dwelling units
- Non-residential — Industrial buildings: factories, workshops
- Non-residential — Warehouse buildings: storage facilities, distribution centres
- Non-residential — Commercial buildings: retail, markets, trade fairs
- Non-residential — Office and administrative buildings
- Non-residential — Hotels: guesthouses, boarding houses
- Non-residential — Public buildings: health, education, leisure, other
- Non-residential — Agricultural buildings: livestock, storage
Construction Output
- Total monetary construction activity of a country in euros
- Inflation-adjusted, base year 2015
- Excluding VAT
- Including DIY and shadow economy
Economy
- GDP growth (annual & quarterly)
- Unemployment rate (ILO definition)
- Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI)
- Export volume
- Import volume
Demographics
- Population
- Population growth
- EU27 population share
- Population structure (age groups)
EU Business Cycle Indices
- Monthly confidence indicators: industry, services, construction, retail, consumers
- Employment index
- Production index
- Hours worked
- Construction confidence indicator & order books
- Price expectations & activity trends
- Limiting factors: demand, weather, labour, materials, finance
Finance
- Current account balance
- Government debt
- Inflation rate
- Household savings rate
- Government expenditure
- House price index
- Purchase intentions for real estate
- Likelihood of renovations