The figures from the Swiss DIY market are positive. But if you take a closer look, you quickly realize that nominal growth and real gains are two different things
The construction boom is back—at least on paper. In the fourth quarter of 2025, nominal construction investment in Switzerland rose by 2.7%. This was followed by a further increase of 1.7% in the first quarter of 2026. And according to the latest KOF-Baublatt outlook, growth is expected to rise again to 2.3% in the current second quarter—driven by a high number of building applications and permits granted. The Swiss Contractors’ Association’s construction index also confirms this: In the first quarter of 2026, construction activity rose by a robust 5.6%. Residential construction remains the key driver of growth.
So much for the good news.
What the figures do not show
Nominal growth and real gains are not the same thing. Anyone building today is feeling it: construction prices are rising. Diesel, bitumen, material costs – many things have become more expensive. If prices rise faster than the sums invested, the real construction volume shrinks, even if the figures look better on paper.
We experience precisely this difference in our daily work. Building owners often start with a solid budget – and only realize in the middle of it what price increases eat up.
What this means for you
A positive market outlook is not a free ride. It is an invitation to plan well now – with realistic cost expectations, clear budget control and experienced construction support that intervenes early before things get tight. This is exactly what we are here for.
Are you planning a construction project? We accompany you from the first cost estimate to the handover of the keys – transparently, independently, on your side.