Construction input prices dipped 0.1% in September compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices also fell 0.1% for the month.
Construction input prices are up 16.3% from a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 15.9% higher. Input prices were down in six of 11 subcategories on a monthly basis. Steel mill prices fell 6.7% and iron and steel prices dropped 5.4%. Natural gas prices rose 3.1%, while crude petroleum prices were down 3.4% in September. Overall producer prices expanded 0.4% in September, a larger increase than the consensus estimate of 0.2%.
“Investors and other stakeholders are eagerly awaiting any indications of meaningful declines in inflationary pressures,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Elevated inflation and interest rate increases have not only undone momentum in America’s homebuilding industry but also threaten the entire global economy. There are already indications of growing financial stress, including at banking giant Credit Suisse. This is bad news for the heavily financed real estate and construction segments.
“While many American nonresidential contractors remain upbeat, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, there are significant threats looming over the industry,” said Basu. “Next year stands to be a weak one for the U.S. economy as it continues to absorb the impacts of rapidly rising borrowing costs.
“Today’s PPI release strongly suggests that there is no impending end to the Federal Reserve’s rate-tightening, which means that negative factors threatening the broader economy and nonresidential construction are only getting stronger,” said Basu. “While nonresidential input prices fell slightly, inflation came in hotter than anticipated in the overall report. For contractors, the upshot is that they should be actively preparing their respective balance sheets for a downturn, even as many firms presently operate at capacity.”
![PPI Table September](/sites/default/files/inline-images/PPI_Table_Sep_22.jpeg)
![PPI Graph September](/sites/default/files/inline-images/PPI_Graph_Sep_22.jpeg)
Related Stories
Market Data | Nov 25, 2019
Office construction lifts U.S. asking rental rate, but slowing absorption in Q3 raises concerns
12-month net absorption decelerates by one-third from 2018 total.
Market Data | Nov 22, 2019
Architecture Billings Index rebounds after two down months
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score in October is 52.0.
Market Data | Nov 14, 2019
Construction input prices unchanged in October
Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.1% for the month and are down 2.0% compared to the same time last year.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 7, 2019
Multifamily construction market remains strong heading into 2020
Fewer than one in 10 AEC firms doing multifamily work reported a decrease in proposal activity in Q3 2019, according to a PSMJ report.
Market Data | Nov 5, 2019
Construction and real estate industry deals in September 2019 total $21.7bn globally
In terms of number of deals, the sector saw a drop of 4.4% over the last 12-month average.
Market Data | Nov 4, 2019
Nonresidential construction spending rebounds slightly in September
Private nonresidential spending fell 0.3% on a monthly basis and is down 5.7% compared to the same time last year.
Market Data | Nov 1, 2019
GDP growth expands despite reduction in nonresident investment
The annual rate for nonresidential fixed investment in structures declined 15.3% in the third quarter.
Market Data | Oct 24, 2019
Architecture Billings Index downturn moderates as challenging conditions continue
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score in September is 49.7.
Market Data | Oct 23, 2019
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator rebounds in August
The primary issue for most contractors is not a lack of demand, but an ongoing and worsening shortage of skilled workers available to meet contractual requirements.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 16, 2019
A new study wonders how many retiring adults will be able to afford housing
Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies focuses on growing income disparities among people 50 or older.