Construction Economics
ENR publishes both a Construction Cost Index and Building Cost index that are widely used in the construction industry. This website contains an explanation of the indexes methodology and a complete history of the 20-city national average for the CCI and BCI. Both indexes have a materials and labor component. In the second issue of each month ENR publishes the CCI, BCI, materials index, skilled labor index and common labor index for 20 cities and the national average. The first issue also contains an index review of all five national indexes for the latest 14 month period.
Current Cost Indices
+2.1%
Jul 2015 | CONSTRUCTION COST |
| 1913 = 100 |
INDEX VALUE |
MONTH |
YEAR |
| CONSTRUCTION |
10037.4 |
0.0% |
+2.1% |
|---|
| COMMON LABOR |
21463.03 |
0.0% |
+2.2% |
|---|
| WAGE $/HR. |
40.78 |
0.0% |
+2.9% |
|---|
|
+2.4%
Jul 2015 | BUILDING COST |
| 1913 = 100 |
INDEX VALUE |
MONTH |
YEAR |
|---|
| BUILDING |
5510.47 |
+0.1% |
+2.4% |
|---|
| SKILLED LABOR |
9562.52 |
+0.1% |
+2.8% |
|---|
| WAGE $/HR. |
53.07 |
+0.1% |
+2.8% |
|---|
|
+1.7%
Jul 2015 | MATERIALS COST |
| 1913 = 100 |
INDEX VALUE |
MONTH |
YEAR |
| MATERIALS |
3034.52 |
–0.1% |
+1.7% |
|---|
| CEMENT $/TON |
115.55 |
–0.8% |
+0.9% |
|---|
| STEEL $/CWT |
49.74 |
0.0% |
+0.3% |
|---|
| LUMBER $/MBF |
466.41 |
–0.4% |
+5.2% |
|---|
|
ENR's asphalt, cement and concrete prices for July 2015.
 | Portland cement prices drop Portland cement prices dropped 0.1% this month, per ENR's 20-city average, after seeing a 0.3% increase in June. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer price index, the price for cement did not change from April to May after increasing 2.8% the previous month but saw a boost of 8.4% since the same time last year. Ready-mix concrete prices are up 3.3% over July 2014, declining slightly from an annual escalation rate of 3.5% in June. The price of concrete block held steady since last month but is up 2.2% annually, dropping from June's 3.7% yearly increase rate. |
ENR's structural steel, rebar, building sheet and piling prices for June 2015.
 | Aluminum sheet prices decline The price of aluminum sheet declined 1.2% in May, but saw a 1.5% increase over the same time last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer price index. ENR's 20-city average reports that the price of aluminum sheet rose 0.1% in June but declined 0.3% for the year. The price for 20-gauge stainless-steel sheet held steady in the past month, while yearly prices rose 1.0% since June 2014. Rates for reinforcing bars also showed no movement in the past month, after dropping 1.3% in May. Since this time last year, the price has risen 0.3%, down from last month's yearly escalation rate of 0.7%. |
ENR's lumber, plywood and plyform prices for June 2015.
 | Lumber prices rise Lumber prices continue to rise for the third consecutive month, with increases for pine and the commonly used species of 2x4s, according to ENR's 20-city average. Prices for 2x4 fir declined 0.7% in June but are still up 4.6% over this time last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index for lumber is down 2.3% in May, with a decline of 7.9% since June 2014. Particle board prices jumped 1.2% in June after seeing no movement last month, bringing the increase over this time last year to 17.1%. Prices for plywood dropped 0.1% this month, but prices are still up 1.8% since June 2014. |
ENR's sewer, water and drain pipe prices for June 2015.
 | Reinforced-concrete pipe prices rise ENR's 20-city average price for 12-in. reinforced-concrete pipe rose 0.6 % in June, following last month's increase 1.7%. The monthly boost brought the annual escalation rate to 5.6% this month, up from 5.3% in May. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer price index for concrete pipe was up 0.3% in April, after holding steady in March, with an increase of 3.2% over the same time period in 2014. The 20-city average price for 8-in. PVC water pipe continued to decline in June, down 0.8% from last month. PVC pipe prices are up 3.9% over this time last year, rising from an annual escalation rate of 3.3% in May. |
- Construction Cost Index History
200 hours of common labor at the 20-city average of common labor rates, plus 25 cwt of standard structural steel shapes at the mill price prior to 1996 and the fabricated 20-city price from 1996, plus 1.128 tons of portland cement at the 20-city price, plus 1,088 board-ft of 2 x 4 lumber at the 20-city price.
- Building Cost Index History
68.38 hours of skilled labor at the 20-city average of bricklayers, carpenters and structural ironworkers rates, plus 25 cwt of standard structural steel shapes at the mill price prior to 1996 and the fabricated 20-city price from 1996, plus 1.128 tons of portland cement at the 20-city price, plus 1,088 board ft of 2 x 4 lumber at the 20-city price.
Cost Index History Tables
The building and construction cost indexes for ENR’s individual cities use the same components and weighting as those for the 20-city national indexes. The city indexes use local prices for portland cement and 2 X 4 lumber and the national average price for structural steel. The city’s BCI uses local union wages, plus fringes, for carpenters, bricklayers and iron workers. The city’s CCI uses the same union wages for laborers.
ENR Cost Indexes in 20 Cities 1978-2012
Atlanta, GA
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Baltimore, MD
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Birmingham, AL
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Boston, MA
|
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Chicago, IL
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Cincinnati, OH
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Cleveland, OH
|
Dallas, TX
|
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Denver, CO
|
Detroit, MI
|
Kansas City, MO
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
Minneapolis, MN
|
New Orleans, LA
|
New York, NY
|
Philadelphia, PA
|
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Pittsburgh, PA
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San Francisco, CA
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Seattle, WA
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St. Louis, MO
|
ENR Cost Indexes in Canadian Cities 1978-2012
