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
| Aug 11, 2010
Sargent launches power over ethernet campus access control solution
Sargent takes campus access control to the edge of the network with the new Passport 1000 P1 Power over Ethernet (PoE) hardware. Passport P1 connects to a facility’s Ethernet network with standard cabling, and provides full online access control even when the network is unavailable.
| Aug 11, 2010
Webcor, Hunt Construction lead the way in mixed-use construction, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 30 Mixed-Use Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction cost trend remains negative despite August increases, according to AGC
Despite increases in construction costs in August, new figures released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that prices for the sector remain significantly down from a year ago, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America said today in analyzing the data.
| Aug 11, 2010
Clark Group, Hensel Phelps among nation's largest federal government contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 40 Federal Government Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Report: Fraud levels fall for construction industry, but companies still losing $6.4 million on average
The global construction, engineering and infrastructure industry saw a significant decline in fraud activity with companies losing an average of $6.4 million over the last three years, according to the latest edition of the Kroll Annual Global Fraud Report, released today at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston. This new figure represents less than half of last year’s amount of $14.2 million.
| Aug 11, 2010
Oldcastle Precast Building Systems wins PCI 2009 Sustainable Design Award
Oldcastle Precast Building Systems was part of the award winning team behind the affordable housing development Melrose Commons Site 5 situated in the South Bronx. PCI (Precast Concrete Institute) recently selected Melrose 5 for the “2009 PCI Design Award for Best Sustainable Project”.
| Aug 11, 2010
AAMA developing product-based green certification program for fenestration
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association is working on a product-based green certification program for residential and commercial fenestration, the organization announced today. AAMA will use the results of a recent green building survey to help shape the program. Among the survey's findings: 77% of respondents reported a green certification program for fenestration would benefit the product selection process for their company.