Construction materials prices increase 1.3 percent in February

Updated Mar 18, 2013

woodenbarsThe Associated General Contractors of America has released its Producer Price Index (PPI) report for February, which reveals that construction materials prices increased 1.3 percent between January and February and 2.0 percent from a year ago.

The index for new office construction rose 1.0 percent in the past year; new school buildings rose 1.2 percent; new industrial construction rose 1.3 percent; and new warehouses rose 2.6 percent.

The PPI for gypsum products such as wallboard and plaster increased 4.4 percent in February and 17.8 percent year-over-year. Lumber and plywood prices increased 2.3 percent in February and 15.8 percent from a year ago. Insulation prices increased 2.1 percent in February and 5.9 percent year-over-year, while the PPI for diesel fuel increased 7.2 percent in February and 3.8 percent year-over-year.

Copper and brass mill prices increased 0.7 percent in February while remaining 2.1 percent below year-ago levels. Aluminum mill prices increased 0.6 percent in for the month but decreased 1.5 percent year-over-year. The PPI for steel mill products decreased 0.9 percent in February and 9.7 percent from a year ago. Asphalt paving prices declined 0.1 percent in February but increased 1.1 percent year-over-year. Concrete prices increased 0.3 percent for the month and 2.3 percent from a year ago.