Prices for construction materials moved higher in January, propelled by large jumps in items used in new housing and nonresidential building renovations, according to an analysis of new federal figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said that contractors were paying more for materials even as the pending federal spending “sequestration” threatens to cancel an estimated $4 billion worth of construction activity this year.
“Contractors had to contend with huge leaps in prices for gypsum, wallboard and lumber, as well as significant increases in the cost of insulation and architectural coatings such as paint,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for AGC. “Based on pump prices for diesel fuel and price announcements by various manufacturers, it is clear that costs are rising significantly higher in February.”
The producer price index for all construction inputs—what contractors pay for construction materials—rose 0.7% between December and January and is now up 1.3% compared with 12 months ago, Simonson noted. He added that bid levels for finished structures rose at comparable rates during the past year. The index for new school buildings rose 0.9%; new industrial construction, 1.4%; new office construction, 1.0% and new warehouses, 2.9%.
The producer price index for gypsum products such as wallboard and plaster soared 11.8% in January alone and 20.4% over the past 12 months, Simonson noted. Lumber and plywood prices climbed 4.2% and 15.1%, respectively. Insulation prices rose 2% and 5.4%, while the price index for architectural coatings increased 1.1% and 0.5%.
Prices for fuel, paving and structural materials also increased for the month but were mixed over the past year, Simonson pointed out. The index for diesel fuel rose 0.7% in January but fell 1% from a year ago. Asphalt paving prices climbed 0.6% for the month and 3.7% over 12 months, while concrete prices increased 0.5% and 2.2%, respectively. Copper and brass mill prices rose 0.6% and 2.9%. Aluminum mill prices climbed 0.3% in January but inched down 0.1% over 12 months, while the price index for steel mill products slid 0.1% and 8.3%.
AGC officials cautioned that contractors are paying more for a range of key construction materials even as the looming federal spending “sequestration” threatens to cancel an estimated $4 billion worth of publicly funded construction projects this year. They added that a revised analysis of the impacts of the sequestration identified a host of federal construction programs that will experience significant cuts this year.
“After years of struggling to survive extremely difficult market conditions, it would be a shame to see firms close shop because Washington officials can’t solve a funding crisis of their own making,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.
