Construction material prices drop slightly in April, extending the decline

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

“Embodied Carbon and Material Health in Insulation” and “Embodied Carbon and Material Health in Gypsum Drywall and Flooring,” by architecture and design firm Perkins&Will in partnership with the Healthy Building Network, advise on how to select the best low-carbon products with the least impact on human health.

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