PLG Consulting’s Managing Director of Facility Design and Automation, Candy Mitchell, presents “What to Know: The Warehouse Cost Evolution.” This comprehensive analysis reveals the dramatic transformation reshaping warehouse and logistics economics—a shift that extends far beyond typical inflation and represents both unprecedented challenges and strategic opportunities for forward-thinking companies.

Through detailed analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and industry trends, this report exposes the structural changes that have fundamentally altered warehouse operations. The findings demonstrate how companies can transform rising costs into competitive advantages through strategic facility design and automation investments.

In this essential industry report, you will discover:

• The New Cost Reality: How warehouse wages have surged 35% over 11 years, with dramatic acceleration post-2020
• Beyond Labor: Warehouse leasing rates up 45% since 2017, reaching $9.47 per square foot in 2025
• 3PL Impact: Third-party logistics costs have increased 55%, with pallet storage costs nearly doubling
• The Cumulative Effect: Companies need $1.5-$1.7 million today for operations that cost $1 million in 2017
• Strategic Solutions: How design-led approaches can double worker productivity and deliver automation ROI in 18-24 months
• Competitive Differentiation: Why this cost evolution creates an unusual window for market advantage
• Future-Ready Infrastructure: Building modular, scalable systems that strengthen as technology advances

The data is clear: these aren’t temporary inflationary spikes, but a permanent shift in warehouse economics. Companies that view this moment as a catalyst for transformation, rather than simply absorbing costs, are positioning themselves for unprecedented operational excellence and lasting competitive advantage.

Download the full report.