Washington, D.C. — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis examining recent U.S. GDP data and its implications for construction activity and plastics demand heading into 2026.
Dr. Pineda writes, “The latest revision of third-quarter U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaffirmed the resilience of the economy, with output expanding at a robust 4.4% annualized rate. Attention now turns to February 20, 2026, when the advance estimate for fourth-quarter GDP will be released. Growth in the fourth quarter is widely expected to have slowed relative to the second and third quarters, reflecting a gradual cooling rather than a reversal in economic momentum.
In 2026, the trajectory of borrowing costs, labor market conditions, and investment in structures will determine whether building and construction shift from a drag to a tailwind for plastics demand,” concluded Pineda.
Click here to read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog.
About the Plastics Industry Association
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $551 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
