The construction materials price index for nonresidential buildings fell 0.3% in April extending the decline since the September index peak to 13.1%. Prices for the mix of materials used in nonresidential construction prices are back to the December 2007 level before the 14% jump in prices from March through September.
The materials price index is expected to decline slowly for a few more months but be rising modestly again by the end of the year and rising more quickly next year, perhaps up 4–5% from the 2009 average.
April's price drop was led by structural steel (7.3%) and plywood (-3.3%). The only significant April price increases were for diesel (20.5%) and nonferrous pipe and tube (20.9%) which had both declined in March. Rising scrap and ore prices mean rising nonferrous product prices for at least several months. The Energy Department reports that diesel pump prices were unchanged from the April to the May price survey week.
Percent Change in ..... | 1 month | 3 months | 12 months | 3 years |
Source: Producer Price Index. Bureau of Labor Statistics | ||||
Construction commodities | ||||
Cement | 0.8 | -0.2 | 0.0 | 6.1 |
Construction sand, gravel & crushed stone | 0.5 | 1.4 | 5.5 | 23.1 |
Softwood plywood | -3.3 | -4.9 | -12.7 | -21.1 |
Softwood lumber | 1.6 | -2.6 | -10.7 | -32.5 |
Manufactured materials | ||||
Gypsum products | -0.2 | -1.2 | 5.3 | -17.5 |
Diesel fuel | 20.5 | -2.6 | -56.2 | -30.6 |
Paint | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12.4 | 22.5 |
Plastic construction products | -0.5 | -0.6 | 3.0 | 1.9 |
Vitreous plumbing fixtures | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.2 | -1.9 |
Ceramic tile | -2.0 | -1.4 | -0.2 | 1.6 |
Flat glass | -0.4 | -1.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
Hot-rolled bars, plates, and structural shapes | -7.3 | -15.7 | -25.9 | -2.0 |
Extruded aluminum rod, bar, and other shapes | 1.2 | -4.3 | -26.3 | -18.2 |
Architectural metalwork | 0.6 | -2.4 | 12.1 | 24.7 |
Metal plumbing fixtures | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 13.1 |
Builders' hardware | 0.5 | -2.7 | 6.8 | 20.4 |
Sheet metal products | -0.6 | -3.6 | 0.2 | 9.9 |
Nonferrous pipe and tube | 20.9 | 26.7 | -28.5 | -1.3 |
Building brick | 0.5 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
Ready-mix concrete | -1.0 | -1.9 | 3.4 | 10.7 |
Concrete block and brick | 0.3 | -0.1 | 3.3 | 10.1 |
Millwork (window, door, cabinet) | -0.2 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 5.3 |
Engineered wood products | -1.3 | -3.3 | -2.6 | -14.6 |
Metal doors, sash, and trim | -0.8 | 0.2 | 5.4 | 9.2 |
Summary | ||||
Construction materials (commodity level) | -2.3 | -3.1 | -1.7 | 4.9 |
Inputs to construction industries | -0.4 | -1.6 | -3.6 | 6.4 |
Inputs to nonresidential construction | -0.3 | -1.6 | -5.2 | 6.3 |
Related Stories
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| May 15, 2012
SAGE Electrochromics to become wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain
This deal will help SAGE expand into international markets, develop new products and complete construction of the company’s new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Faribault, Minn.
| May 14, 2012
Plumbing research coalition to study drainline transport issue
The effort is aimed at determining if decreasing levels of water flow––caused by increasingly efficient plumbing fixtures––are sufficient to clear debris from plumbing pipes.
| May 14, 2012
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture design Seoul’s Dancing Dragons
Supertall two-tower complex located in Seoul’s Yongsan International Business District.
| May 8, 2012
Morgan/Harbour completes three projects at Columbia Centre
Projects completed on behalf of property owner, White Oak Realty Partners, LLC, Pearlmark Realty Partners, LLC and Angelo Gordon & Co.
| May 3, 2012
Ground broken for $94 million hospital expansion at Scripps Encinitas
New facility to more than double emergency department size, boost inpatient beds by 43%.
| May 1, 2012
Time-lapse video: World Trade Center, New York
One World Trade Center, being built at the site of the fallen twin towers, surpassed the Empire State Building on Monday as the tallest building in New York.
| May 1, 2012
Bruce E. Brooks Associates announces new commissioning subsidiary
Brooks + Wright Commissioning to be led by Will Wright.