Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LOS ANGELES, May 15 (Xinhua) — Just over a month after the U.S. administration imposed massive tariffs on its trading partners, David Truong, a manager at DuiDui Construction in Los Angeles, California, is already facing rising costs.
“The prices of almost all construction materials have continued to rise in recent months,” D. Truong told Xinhua. “Construction of new houses is becoming more expensive every day.”
D. Truong showed a construction site in Temple City, Los Angeles County, where the effects of the tariffs are visible to the naked eye. For example, a faucet used to cost about $160; now it costs at least $200. A steel-framed window that used to cost just over $300 now sells for more than $370.
The biggest increase is in lighting fixtures. “A recessed LED light that used to cost $12 to $15 is now about $30,” he explained. “This house needs over 20 of them, so we’re spending an extra $300 to $400 just on lighting.”
The sharp rise in tariffs is adding nearly $11,000 to the cost of building a new home in the U.S., according to April data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the nation’s largest trade associations.
“The disruptions caused by tariffs make it difficult for developers to accurately price and make important business decisions,” NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said in an April press release.
According to Anirban Basu, chief economist at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), building materials prices rose 9.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025.
“While contractors are currently busy, this rate of price increases and the associated uncertainty will lead to delays and project cancellations if the situation continues for a long time,” he said.
Rising costs have cut into D. Truong’s company’s profits, forcing him to raise his rates. In Temple City, his company’s cost to build a new home has risen from $220 to $250 per square foot. In more challenging locations in other cities, the price can reach $280 per square foot.
Truong’s company is not alone in facing difficulties. Many contractors are experiencing similar problems: The prices of materials such as wiring, PVC pipes and cabinets have skyrocketed. As a result, many are having to renegotiate contracts with clients to share the financial burden.
But rising prices aren’t the only thing that worries D. Truong and other developers. The biggest concern, he said, is a potential shortage of materials. “Our biggest fear is that some materials will soon disappear from the market, no matter how much we are willing to pay for them,” he said. -0-