News

Reprinted from Associated General Contractors of America

To visit the AGC of America website:

http://www.agc.org/cs/news_media/press_room/press_release?pressrelease.id=967

Date: November 15, 2011

Producer Price Index for Construction Materials Climbed 6.9 Percent in Past 12 Months, While Amount Contractors Charge Only Increased Between 3.3 to 4.3 Percent, Construction Economist Notes

The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials dropped slightly (-0.6 percent) in October but climbed 6.9 percent from the year-earlier level, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Meanwhile, the price contractors charge for new nonresidential building construction edged up only 3.3 to 4.3 percent over 12 months, depending on building type.

“While the gap is beginning to narrow just a bit, prices for most construction materials have risen far more during the past year than the amount contractors can charge for completing construction projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Coupled with weak growth in demand for construction, the price gap is likely contributing to the stagnant employment levels the industry has been experiencing all year.”

Simonson noted that prices for a number of key construction materials declined during the past month. Prices for diesel fuel dropped 2.2 percent in October, but are up 27.3 percent since October 2010 while prices for copper and brass mills shapes fell -8.3 percent during the past month and -0.2 percent over 12 months. Meanwhile, prices for gypsum and steel mill products increased in October by 3.0 and 0.4 percent respectively. Gypsum prices are down -1.0 percent compared to last year, however, while steel mill product prices are up 13.6 percent over the past year.

“Costs for essential construction materials are likely to remain volatile, causing financial difficulties for some contractors, who must guarantee prices to owners months before purchasing materials,” the economist cautioned. He noted, for example, that in the month since the latest price was collected retail prices for diesel have jumped 26 cents per gallon.

Simonson observed that the price index for new construction – what contractors charge for construction projects – increased during the past month and is up compared to last year. The price of new industrial buildings rose 1.5 percent during the past month and 3.4 percent for the year. New warehouses rose 1.6 percent in October and 3.9 percent compared to October 2010. The price for new school construction increased by 1.8 percent compared the prior month and is up 4.3 percent compared to last year. And new office construction rose 1.0 percent in October and is 3.3 percent higher than last year.

Reprinted from Associated General Contractors of America

To visit the AGC of America website:

http://www.agc.org/cs/news_media/press_room/press_release?pressrelease.id=935

Date: October 18, 2011

Producer Price Index for Construction Materials Climbed 8.1 Percent in Past 12 Months, While Amount Contractors Charge Only Increased Between 2 to 3 Percent, Construction Economist Notes 

The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials held steady in September but climbed 8.1 percent from the year-earlier level, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Meanwhile, the price contractors charge for new nonresidential building construction edged up only 2 to 3 percent over 12 months, depending on building type. 

“Feeble demand for construction is forcing contractors to absorb the bulk of materials price hikes, instead of passing them along to owners,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “This pattern has persisted for more than two years, and many contractors are increasingly at risk of going under.”  

Simonson noted that key materials showed divergent price trends in September but all posted double-digit year-over-year increases. Those materials include diesel fuel, which was up 3.3 percent for the month and 39.4 percent since September 2010; copper and brass mill shapes, down 0.7 percent in September but up 14.8 percent over 12 months; steel mill products, which slipped 0.6 percent for the month but rose 13.5 percent for the year; and aluminum mill shapes, down 1.8 percent for the month but up 10.4 percent from a year earlier. 

“These prices can spike anytime there is a global supply disruption or a consensus that demand is strengthening worldwide, not just from U.S. construction,” Simonson explained. “In contrast, materials produced here and used only by U.S. construction have shown little price movement.” He cited, as examples, the producer price indexes for concrete products, up 0.2 percent in September and 0.3 percent over 12 months; lumber and plywood, down 1.3 percent for the month and 0.4 percent for the year; and gypsum products such as wallboard, down 1.7 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. 

Simonson observed that the price index for new construction – what contractors charge for construction projects – rose 2.2 percent over 12 months for industrial buildings, 2.6 percent for offices, 2.8 percent for warehouses and 3.0 percent for schools. “In light of the much steeper materials cost increases, these gains are not enough to keep contractors solvent,” he warned. 

Association officials said that in addition to the cost squeeze, the construction industry was suffering from decreasing demand for public sector construction activity. They said that while state and local construction budgets will continue to contract for the foreseeable future, Washington could help offset some of the decline by enacting legislation to make needed, long-term, investments in highways, transit systems, clean water systems, airports and runways. 

“Given the stagnant construction bid prices, taxpayers stand to benefit if Washington acts quickly to enact new infrastructure investments,” Stephen E. Sandherr. “Even if construction prices rebound in the near future, it is still a lot less expensive to maintain infrastructure while it is operating than to fix it once it breaks.”