Materials Trends
Prices are updated monthly by ENR's price reporters who call a single source for each product in 20 U.S. cities. The price represents that paid by a contractor for a specified large order. Monthly prices appear on the weekly rotating cycle.
Cement/Concrete/Aggregates
Prices for 21 products covering asphalt, cement, aggregates, concrete, brick, concrete block and mason's lime.
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Concrete Prices Resist Recession Pressure
Ready-mix concrete producers are apparently among the most adept at resisting downward pricing pressure from the recession. At the beginning of this month, ENR’s 20-city average price for three different strengths of concrete increased about 0.1%. This modest boost left ENR’s prices between 3.4% and 4.7% above a year ago. Last July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index for ready-mixed concrete showed a year-toyear gain of 2.7%. This was mostly because of a strong 2.3% increase in January, which was followed by a slow but steady erosion of prices through July’s 0.4% decline.
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Pipe
Prices for 20 pipe products covering reinforced concrete pipe, corrugated steel pipe, vitrified clay pipe, PE underdrain, PVC sewer and water pipe, ductile iron pipe and copper water tubing.
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Pipe Prices on Pause
Prices for most construction pipe products have been relatively stable for the past half-year. ENR’s 20-city average prices for reinforced-concrete pipe have shown little movement, following last spring’s increases. However, those spring increases are still keeping ENR’s prices 2% to 6% above November 2008’s level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index for concrete pipe in July was down 1% from a year ago, after posting double-digit annual increases through most of 2008. The BLS index of plastic pipe is also down 1% from a year ago, while ENR’s prices are down 0.5%, on average.
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Lumber/Drywall
Prices for 18 products covering lumber, plywood, plyform, particle board, gypsum wallboard and insulation.
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Still No Bottom in Sight
Lumber prices dropped again this month, continuing a three-year-long decline that has yet to reach bottom. ENR’s 20-city average price for lumber is 7% below a year ago, following annual declines of 2% in 2008, 6% in 2007 and 11% in 2006. ENR’s wholesale price follows the steep decline in mill prices, which are tracked by Eugene, Ore.-based wood pricing specialist Random Lengths. Its composite mill price for lumber was $235 per thousand board ft in October. That price is about even with 2008’s level but down nearly 40% from the peak in 2004. Random Length’s plywood prices are down 47% from 2005’s.
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Steel
Prices for 16 products covering structural steel, reinforcing bar, steel plate, metal lath, aluminum sheet, stainless steel sheet and plate and H-piles.
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Rebar Prices Post Modest Rebound
Prices for concrete reinforcing bar held steady in October after rebounding 2.3% between July and September. The modest rebound checked a steep decline that has left ENR’s 20-city average price for grade-60 rebar 10% below October 2008’s level. Prices for structural steel have not shown any bounce but appear to have bottomed out over the summer). Prices for channel, wide-flange and I-beams remain between 8% and 11% below a year ago, according to ENR’s 20-city average price. Stainless-steel prices have shown the most strength recently, jumping 5.4% over the last four months.
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Materials Price Index
The Materials Cost Index is the materials component of ENR’s building and construction cost indexes. It tracks the weighted price movement of structural steel, portland cement and 2 X 4 lumber.
