Four top cost consultants predict rapid fall and slow recovery in contract values
Tender prices will not return to today鈥檚 levels for another five years, according to an exclusive compilation of forecasts from a range of QSs.
The consultants say prolonged falls in tender prices will lead to further hardship for the industry, including redundancies, insolvencies and litigation.
The figures are compiled from five-year estimates by Davis Langdon, Cyril Sweett, EC Harris and Gleeds. They predict that by 2014, prices will have recovered to 1.7% above today鈥檚 level.
Paul Moore, head of cost research at EC Harris, said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 general agreement that prices will fall for the next couple of years, bottoming out in mid to late-2011 and bumping along the bottom until mid-2012.鈥
Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB 好色先生TV Solutions, said: 鈥淚f accurate, these figures would mean significantly more insolvencies, leading to a massive decrease in the industry鈥檚 capabilities.鈥
Sarah Davidson, head of corporate research at Gleeds, said: 鈥淚f tender prices continue falling into 2011, we are all going to be suffering for a long time.鈥
She added that clients should avoid traditional lump-sum competitive tendering. 鈥淐lients must realise this is not the best policy. If they award long-term contracts, subcontractors鈥 costs may go up and the main contractor will have to find the money elsewhere, including through claims.鈥
Simon Rawlinson, a partner in Davis Langdon, said prices would eventually inch up because 鈥渆ven if output growth is limited, increasing raw material prices and reduced capacity鈥 would lead to pressure on prices.
Tender price forecast
based on average estimates from Davis Langdon,
Cyril Sweett, EC Harris and Gleeds
Year to third quarter 2010 鈥6.3%
Year to third quarter 2011 鈥1.5%
Year to third quarter 2012 +2.2%
Year to third quarter 2013 +3.5%
Year to third quarter 2014 +4.2%
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