| BROOKSTONE INDUSTRIES | April 1, 2026 · Vol. 1, Issue 1 |
BRIEF.
Welcome to the first edition of The Brookstone Brief — our monthly look at what’s moving in the market, what’s happening locally, and what it might mean for the work you’re doing. Our goal is simple: to be a useful partner, not just a vendor.
| Local Economic Outlook |
Lancaster’s economy showed real resilience heading into 2026. According to the EDC’s Q4 2025 Data Brief, businesses rebounded strongly in the fourth quarter — employment returned to 2023–24 levels after a mid-year pause driven by tariff uncertainty. Demand for products and services grew alongside it.
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Q4 ↑
Business rebound — hiring and demand both recovering
EDC Lancaster County Q4 2025
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30/60
Municipalities in county’s first major growth update in 30 years
Lancaster County Planning Commission
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On the development front, Lancaster County is in the middle of its most significant growth plan update since the 1990s. The Places2040 amendment touches 30 of 60 municipalities, opening land for residential and industrial development — a positive signal for construction activity in the region over the next several years.
| National Construction Outlook |
Commercial construction remains active heading into spring, with data centers, healthcare, and institutional projects leading the way. According to ACHR News, data center HVAC demand is up 33% year-over-year, with manufacturer backlogs stretching into 2028. That’s good news for the mechanical trades.
The more complex picture is on the cost side. Construction input prices climbed at an annualized rate of 12.6% in January–February, driven by energy and metals. The AGC’s chief economist noted that owners are beginning to delay or scale back some project starts in response to cost pressure — something worth keeping an eye on as the year progresses.
Our take: The work is there. Build escalation clauses into longer jobs, and get your fabrication scoped early — Q2 is shaping up to be a busy, compressed season.
Source: Associated Builders & Contractors · AGC 2026 Outlook · ACHR News
| April 2026 · All figures sourced |
| Material | Trend | What to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | ↑↑ | +39.1% YOY — largest jump since 2022. Middle East supply disruption a factor. (AGC, Mar 2026) |
| Structural Steel | ↑↑ | +20.9% YOY. Lead times extending, mills holding firm on spot pricing. (AGC, Mar 2026) |
| Galvanized Sheet | ↑ | Supply tightening, freight surcharges rising. Some mills have no May production slots. (Steel Market Update, Mar 2026) |
| Copper | ↑ | +15.1% YOY on copper & brass mill shapes. Tariffs and data center demand adding pressure. (AGC, Mar 2026) |
| Diesel / Fuel | ↑ | National avg. $3.98/gal — highest of 2026. Full supply chain effect expected May–June. (GasBuddy; Cotney Consulting) |
| Lumber | ↓ | Futures near $590/mbf — oversupply creating a soft window for wood-framed scopes. (Trading Economics, Feb 2026) |
Sources: AGC Mar 18, 2026 · Steel Market Update Mar 25, 2026 · Trading Economics · Chicago Sun-Times Mar 25, 2026
| From the Shop Floor |
Delivered with Speed.
In an environment where lead times are stretching and schedules are compressed, your fabricator matters more than ever. At Brookstone, we’ve spent 40 years building the kind of reliability contractors can count on — whether it’s a standard production run or a complex custom scope.
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Rectangular Duct
Single & double wall, all gauges
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Spiral & Round
Fittings, couplings, flanged connections
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Pre-Assembly
Dampers, access doors, saddle taps
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BIM Coordination
Shop drawings & 3D models
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Custom Fabrication
One-off parts & field modifications
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Flexible Delivery
Van, box truck, or full semi
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Have spring projects coming up? Reach out early — Q2 is filling up and getting your fabrication scheduled ahead of time is one of the easiest ways to protect your timeline.
| In the News |
A few headlines shaping the industry right now.
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AGC · March 18, 2026
Aluminum up 39%, steel up 21% year-over-year — with the AGC’s chief economist noting that Middle East supply disruptions are beginning to cause some owners to delay projects.
Read more →
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Wikipedia · January & February 2026
Two major winter storms hit the Northeast in Q1 — both triggering Pennsylvania state emergencies and widespread construction site disruptions across the region.
Jan storm →
Feb blizzard →
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Cotney Consulting Group · March 17, 2026
A useful breakdown of how the Iran conflict flows into construction costs — diesel first, then materials, then bids — with pricing adjustments typically lagging energy moves by 30–60 days.
Read more →
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Steel Market Update · March 25, 2026
The galvanized sheet market is tightening, with some mills reporting no May production availability and freight surcharges adding upward pressure. Worth knowing if you’re planning summer jobs.
Read more →
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Ready to line up your spring projects? We’d love to hear what’s on your schedule.
| 📞 717.859.3340 |
| ✉ sales@brookstoneind.com |
Brookstone Industries · 161 Zook’s Mill Road, Ephrata PA 17522
brookstoneind.com · 717.859.3340
The Brookstone Brief is published monthly as a resource for our clients and partners. All market data is sourced from publicly available third-party publications — links provided for full context. Content is intended for general planning purposes only.
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