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GDP likely fell 2.5% in the first quarter and is projected to plummet 18.3% in Q2, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. But the pandemic-induced recession, while steep, is likely to be short, Dodge says. At a seasonally adjusted rate, 6.6 million people filed for unemployment last week, according to the Department of Labor. This follows two weeks of equally devastating numbers, 6.9 million in week of March 28 and 3.3 million in the week preceding. As people return to work, Dodge predicts an 11% increase in quarter three, which will level off to a more modest 2.4% boost in quarter four. For 2020 overall, Dodge predicts a 2.2% decrease in GDP, with a rebound of 2.7% in 2021. Read a summary of "The Potential Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Construction Starts" forecast provided by ENR here.