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
Products and Materials | Aug 17, 2018
Product roundup: AIA show wrap-up
RopeWalker from Draper, YSD 600 T from YKK AP America, and Relay Robot from Kone are just three of the 16 products highlighted in BD+C's August Product Roundup.
Products and Materials | Jul 26, 2018
19 product innovations from the AIA 2018 convention
Vacuum-insulated glass, high-gloss fiber cement, attack-resistant openings were among the new product launches at the 2018 AIA National Convention last month in New York.
Products and Materials | Jul 16, 2018
Product innovations: Modular metal panels, hydraulic glass-clad doors, and motorized screens
These 6 products can provide innovative solutions to numerous design projects.
Flooring | Jun 21, 2018
Product roundup: Floor and wall tile collection
Project evolution from Ceramiche Caesar, Eminent Wood Maximum from Fiandre, and Voyage from Landmark are just three of the 12 products highlighted in BD+C's June Product Roundup.
Products and Materials | May 29, 2018
Product Roundup: 12 roof and wall systems
JM EPDM RT from Johns Manville, Flintlastic SA from CertainTeed, and RockWool Multifix from RockWool are just three of the 12 products highlighted in BD+C's May Product Roundup.
Windows and Doors | Apr 5, 2018
Product roundup: 12 windows + doors products
Schlage's M Collection, Hufcor's Invista, and Sierra Pacific Windows' FeelSafe Bi-fold door are just three of the 12 products highlighted in BD+C's April Product Roundup.
Products and Materials | Feb 19, 2018
Product roundup: 16 sound solutions
Flexi-panel from Extech, Classic Ultra from Icynene, and Heartfelt from Hunter Douglas are just three of the 16 products highlighted in BD+C's February Product Roundup.
Daylighting | Jan 17, 2018
Product roundup: 12 daylighting technologies
Phatom 5000 from Tubelite, SolaMaster 300 from Solatube, and Fallbrook XL Series from C.R. Laurence are just three of the 12 products highlighted in BD+C's January Product Roundup.
Products and Materials | Dec 20, 2017
Liquid air barrier goes on, rain or shine
The silyl-terminated polyether (STPE) liquid-applied air barrier does not wash off when exposed to light rain following application.
