Indicators · Chicago
The numbers behind the Chicago outlook
18 series, each from the source linked on its page, 3 of them our own Chicago index. Arrows read through what is good for a millwork shop, so rising costs point down. Each line is the last 24 months.
Composite
-5
Outlook: Holding-514 weighted series, as of 2026-10-07
Number of the week
$556M
Up, +21.8% m/m
Chicago permits ($)
Demand ahead
Architecture billings
AIA / Deltek · Aug 2026
47.2
Architecture billings, last 3 monthsDown, below 50, 46.6 priorDodge Momentum
Dodge Construction Network · Sep 2026
288.0
Dodge Momentum, last 4 monthsUp, +2.1% m/mContractor backlog
Associated Builders and Contractors · Aug 2026
8.5 mo
Contractor backlog, last 1 monthsFlat, n/a m/m
Chicago, our own index
Activity now
Nonres spending
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$1309B
Nonres spending, last 24 monthsUp, +0.7% m/m, +0.5% y/yOffice
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$151B
Office, last 24 monthsUp, +3.9% m/m, +24.6% y/yHealthcare
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$75.8B
Healthcare, last 24 monthsUp, +0.4% m/m, -3.0% y/yEducation
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$137B
Education, last 24 monthsFlat, 0.0% m/m, -0.5% y/yLodging
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$24.9B
Lodging, last 24 monthsDown, -0.3% m/m, -10.0% y/yCommercial
Census via FRED · Aug 2026
$123B
Commercial, last 24 monthsFlat, -0.2% m/m, -5.4% y/y
Your costs
Millwork PPI
BLS via FRED · Aug 2026
195.8
Millwork PPI, last 24 monthsDown, -0.7% m/m, +1.7% y/yCabinet PPI
BLS via FRED · Aug 2026
288.0
Cabinet PPI, last 24 monthsFlat, 0.0% m/m, +4.3% y/yPlywood PPI
BLS via FRED · Aug 2026
248.1
Plywood PPI, last 24 monthsUp, +1.2% m/m, +9.6% y/ySoftwood lumber
BLS via FRED · Aug 2026
294.9
Softwood lumber, last 24 monthsDown, -1.9% m/m, +11.8% y/yLaminate PPI
BLS via FRED · Aug 2026
231.1
Laminate PPI, last 24 monthsFlat, 0.0% m/m, +3.9% y/y