Merlo forecasts ‘decade of opportunity’ in construction and data centres

Merlo America has released an economic forecast pointing to a decade of opportunity across the construction, agriculture and data centre sectors.

Developed in collaboration with predictive sales intelligence firm BiltData.ai, the report projects a robust 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in US construction spending; rising from $1.553 trillion in 2025 to $1.889 trillion by 2030.

With pockets of demand accelerating nationwide, Merlo America says it is using these insights to strategically expand its dealer network and is poised to deliver its range of telehandlers, utility tractors and attachments to meet the demands of these expanding markets.

Construction spending by state and top markets. (Image: Merlo).

“This is about putting data in the hands of the people building the future,” said Cole Renken, General Manager and President for Merlo America. “We are arming our dealers with intelligence from BiltData.ai to help them succeed in the places where demand is rising fastest — whether that’s in construction, agriculture or the booming data centre sector.”

Momentum in large cities

According to Merlo’s forecast, just 35 metropolitan areas will account for 64% of total construction spending in 2030 — with the top 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) alone representing over one-third of the market. Leading the charge is the New York-Newark-Jersey City region, projected to hit $162 billion in spending by 2030, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.

Breakdown of projected 2030 construction spending:

• Residential: $756 billion
• Commercial: $567 billion
• Industrial: $377 billion
• Infrastructure: $189 billion

The report highlights Dallas-Fort Worth’s $57.3 billion construction forecast for 2030 and the industrial momentum in cities like Chicago and Atlanta, pointing to clear opportunities for Merlo America’s expanding footprint.

Data centres driving industrial demand

(Image: Merlo America).

Data centres are emerging as powerful drivers of construction and industrial activity, says Merlo in its report. The top 12 markets are expected to account for nearly 73% of all US data centre capacity by 2030, spurred by demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G infrastructure.

Data centres with a capacity of 1,500 MW are a significant driver of technological advancement, particularly in AI and cloud computing. These 12 tech-heavy hubs are ripe for investment in equipment and skilled services — a growth wave Merlo America is aiming to capitalise on.

Forecasting methodology

Beyond urban expansion, the report identifies agricultural hotspots across 179 Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) areas. These regions not only contribute significantly to GDP but are expected to sustain solid employment growth through 2029.

Merlo America’s utility tractors and telehandlers are well-suited to serve these high-output zones, helping modernize operations and improve efficiency on farms and rural projects.

Underpinning the report is BiltData’s forecasting methodology - which combines public data, industry trends and geospatial modelling into actionable market intelligence. “This is not just a forecast - it’s a roadmap,” said Renken. “Whether you’re a contractor, developer, or dealer, this data empowers you to make smarter decisions.”

Merlo America has also launched a new Resource Hub where it will periodically release new insights, forecasts and data research about the construction, agriculture and data center industries.