What you need to know

• Google Play Store is seen adopting Material 3 Expressive, featuring vibrant colors for category icons in the search tab.
• This server-side update (version 46.5.19) enhances the visual distinction of sections like Explore apps and Explore games.
• Previously, the Material 3 Expressive design has also started appearing in other Google apps like Gmail, hinting at a wider visual refresh across Google’s ecosystem, coinciding with the Android 16 rollout.

Google’s Material 3 Expressive is the most visually advanced design makeover coming with Android 16. While it is being incorporated across the interface, new findings reveal how Google Play Store is taking advantage of it.

The latest version of the Play Store app was seen bringing the Material 3 Expressive in the search tab, spotted by Android Authority. It appears to be a server-side update, which brings some colorful elements through the tab icons on the Google Play Store app.

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Per the shared screenshots by the publication, it is pretty evident how the icons across categories look after the latest update. The icons across Popular apps, Explore apps, and Explore games are much easier to spot, thanks to Material 3 Expressive’s vibrant color design elements. While the icons now pop up in colors, the outline still remains intact as in the previous version.

Such subtle design changes are expected to spread across all Google apps as we progress, with the rollout of Android 16 anticipated in the coming months, potentially aligning with the launch of the Pixel 10 series.

As for this update, as told, it is a server-side one and was seen on the Google Play Store running version 46.5.19.

Gmail gains Material 3 Expressive look

Like the Google Play Store, the bold Material 3 Expressive look has also been witnessed in the search giant’s Gmail app. The changes were prominent when it comes to the search bar, bottom navigation bar, and compose button — all of which had their own accent colors popping up.

The compose button now has a glowing look with the new update next to the chunkier font, and the accompanying pencil icon also has a bolder look. When the rollout happens broadly, Gmail users can experience a major revamp with new colors all over the place, and a new card-style layout is also expected.

Welcome back to the latest edition Substack Blog that focuses on labor and construction material costs. Engineering News Record (ENR) history that can be traced back to 1874. The publication has its roots in two separate publications, Engineer & Surveyor and The Plumber and Sanitary Engineer. The first issue of Engineering News-Record was published on April 5, 1917. On January 1st, 1987, the acronym ENR was adopted as the title of the bi-weekly magazine. The charts that follow use data that are courtesy of ENR magazine that is published 26 times a year. Historical data was pulled from microfiche copies of the magazine obtained from the New York Public Library. ENR magazine is only a small portion of the products offered by Engineer News Record and we recommend readers, particularly those with an interest in engineering and construction, take the time to view the ENR website to learn more at…

https://www.enr.com/

Setting aside the constant “chug” higher over the long-term and a normal seasonal boost in Common Labor Costs (often driven by volatile weather conditions) and considering the effects of potential shortages of the common labor pool driven by the current political climate, the Common Labor Index is up 3.12% from this time last year. The five-month moving average (red line) of the 12-Month Rate of Change in the lower panel is noteworthy.

The Skilled Labor Index has also seen a large “pop” in the 12-Month Rate of Change since last April. What economic or labor demand fundamentals that caused the sharp drop in the second quarter of last year is not my forte to explain, but there has been a sharp rebound as the ENR Skilled Labor Index is up 4.36% YoY.

After two years of declining prices, a sharp jump in the 20-City Average Price of 16 Guage Stainless Steel Sheet, up 11.71% since this time last year. At the risk of stating the obvious, “stock piling”?

Since Q3 of last year Asphalt prices have jumped sharply higher and are now up 52.70% over the past 12 months even with oil prices down from $95 in October of last year (currently in the low 60s). As can be seen below the move in the ENR 20-City Average Price of Cutback MC800 has been in concert with a higher move in Crushed Stone.

After a brief dip in the ENR 20-City Average Price of Crushed Stone in the 3rd quarter of last year the per ton price for Base Course has lifted off again and is up 40.06% since this time last year.

The ENR 20-City Price of Light Weight Concrete Block had moved sideways for the better part of a year and a half until it rose to new highs at the start of this year and is now up 10.93% over the past twelve months.

The 20-City Average cost of 36” Corrugated Steel Pipe has risen steadily since the second quarter of 2022 and last month it marked a all-time high. It is currently up 46.53% since this time last year.

Data is courtesy of Engineering News Record

Charts are courtesy of Optuma whose charting software enables anyone to visualize any price data. To receive a 30-day trial of Optuma charting software go to…

www.optuma.com/TMC.

Welcome back to our Substack Blog that focuses on construction costs. Engineering News Record (ENR) history that can be traced back to 1874. The publication has its roots in two separate publications, Engineer & Surveyor and The Plumber and Sanitary Engineer. The first issue of Engineering News-Record was published on April 5, 1917. On January 1st, 1987, the acronym ENR was adopted as the title of the magazine. The charts that follow use data that are courtesy of ENR magazine that is published 26 times a year. Historical data was pulled from microfiche copies of the magazine obtained from the New York Public Library. ENR magazine is only a small portion of the products offered by Engineer News Record and we recommend readers, particularly those with an interest in engineering and construction, take the time to view the ENR website to learn more at…

https://www.enr.com/

Concrete Ready-Mix prices have continued to move higher but at a more subdued rate of change since April of last year, but nonetheless, they have notched a new record high in January and are up +10.50% since this time last year.

Base course crushed stone that is used to create a solid foundation for roads, driveways, and other structures have, after a brief dip in the middle of last year, risen sharply and are up 31.81% year-over-year.

The per ton price of MC800 Asphalt Paving has jumped since August of last year and is up 34.91% since January of last year.

After a near parabolic rise in the 20-City average price of Portland Cement during the third quarter of last year, prices have pulled back but are still up 20.43% year-over-year.

The ENR 20-City Average Price of Masonry Sand has continued to rise at a startling rate and is now up 56.18% year-over-year. More dramatic is the rise over the past five years, since January 2019, up 231.13%.

Concrete Sand

Concrete Sand registered another new high in January. The 20-City Average Price is up 46.94% year-over-year and since January 2019 prices are up 251.93%.

Data is courtesy of Engineering News Record

Charts are courtesy of Optuma whose charting software enables anyone to visualize any price data. To receive a 30-day trial of Optuma charting software go to

www.optuma.com/TMC.