Construction input prices expanded by 0.7% in May and have now expanded for three consecutive months according to an analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The rise follows eight consecutive months during which construction input prices fell; prices remain 3.4% below their year-ago level.
Nonresidential construction input prices expanded by 0.9% in May, but are still 3.5% below their year-ago level. Price gains were largely driven by iron and steel prices and steel mill product prices, which expanded 5.8% and 4.6% for the month, respectively.
"After falling sharply during all of 2015 and into the early months of 2016, an increase in global commodities prices had to happen as markets firmed," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "While much attention has been given to the recent rise in oil prices to around $50 per barrel, other commodity prices have also experienced a resurgence, including iron ore.
"That said, the global economy continues to disappoint relative to expectations established at the start of the year," said Basu. "Higher prices may stimulate new rounds of production, including in energy markets, but the implication is that prices are unlikely to rise smoothly or dramatically going forward. Analyst views regarding the direction of commodity prices diverge wildly. While supply and demand play a role in fashioning commodity prices, so too does the value of the U.S. dollar. U.S. interest rates remain low and in many cases have been declining. The dollar has correspondingly weakened in recent weeks. Should that continue, commodity price increases could be sharper than we presently anticipate."
Nine key input prices expanded or remained unchanged in May on a monthly basis:
- Crude petroleum prices expanded 0.6% from April 2016, but are down 32.5% from May 2015.
- Unprocessed energy material prices expanded 0.9% on a monthly basis, but have fallen 23.1% on a year-ago basis.
- Prices for steel mill products expanded 4.6% from a month ago, but are down 5.2% on a yearly basis.
- Iron and steel prices expanded 5.8% month-over-month, but are down 2% year-over-year.
- Softwood lumber prices expanded 2.2% for the month and 6.3% from May 2016.
- Fabricated structural metal prices remained unchanged month-over-month and are down 1.9% year-over-year.
- Prices for plumbing fixtures and fittings expanded 0.2% for the month and are up 0.3% from the same time last year.
- Prices for prepared asphalt and tar and roofing and siding products expanded by 0.4% month-to-month and 0.7% year-over-year.
- Natural gas prices rose 2.9% for the month, but are down 23.5% from the same period one year ago.
Two key input prices declined on a monthly basis:
- Nonferrous wire and cable prices fell 1.3% on a monthly basis and have fallen 9.2% on a yearly basis.
- Concrete product prices inched down by 0.1% month-over-month, but are up 3% year-over-year.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Building Materials | May 25, 2016
Materials Manufactured to Move Protect Southwest Energy’s New Office
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2016
Industry leaders call for wider use of bamboo as a building material
Benefits include seismic resiliency and sustainability.
Building Materials | Apr 8, 2016
AIA: Architects release first white paper on materials transparency and risk
It provides the steps architects should be taking to ensure change, promote openness, and increase collaboration between themselves, their suppliers, and their clients.
Market Data | Feb 26, 2016
JLL upbeat about construction through 2016
Its latest report cautions about ongoing cost increases related to finding skilled laborers.
| Jan 28, 2016
AIA CES class: The rainscreen approach to a better building envelope
Building envelope expert Bradley Carmichael of Hoffmann Architects explains how rainscreen wall systems work and evaluates the effectiveness of various rain-control methods, including mass walls, perfect barriers, and masonry veneers. This AIA/CES class is worth 1.0 learning unit.
Building Materials | Jan 25, 2016
Johnson Controls to merge with Tyco International
The $20 billion deal is the latest corporate inversion maneuver.
Concrete | Jan 15, 2016
Fallingwater to Sydney Opera House: Ranking the world’s best concrete buildings
Large and small, some of the most iconic structures of all time were made of the composite building material.
| Jan 14, 2016
How to succeed with EIFS: exterior insulation and finish systems
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
Building Materials | Nov 16, 2015
A new database sheds more light on building products’ content
The Quartz Project’s collaborators, which include Google, hope these data will better inform design decisions.