Construction Costs Declined by 1.3% in July

August 18, 2022 from Floor Focus FloorDaily News

Washington, DC, August 18, 2022 – The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction fell 1.3% in July, while contractors’ bid prices rose 5.4%, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials noted that, despite the monthly decline, materials prices remain high and the availability of certain key materials erratic.

“Contractors welcome any relief they can get in the cost of most construction materials,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But it is still too hard to acquire most materials and prices remain quite elevated for many key products.”

The producer price index for inputs to nonresidential construction–the prices charged by goods producers and service providers such as distributors and transportation firms-slipped 1.3% from June to July but remained 14.6% above its July 2021 level. However, there was not an across-the-board decline in prices, the index for new nonresidential building construction-a measure of what contractors calculate they would charge to erect five types of nonresidential buildings-continued to climb, increasing 5.4% from June to July and 23.9% over 12 months.

There were one-month increases in July in the index for paving mixtures and blocks, 2.7%; concrete products, 2.2%; plastic construction products, 1.0%; and gypsum building materials, 0.3%. The price index for diesel fuel fell 16.3% in July but remained 71.3% above its July 2021 level. The index for asphalt and tar roofing and siding products fell 0.4% in July but increased 18.8% over 12 months. Steel mill products fell 3.7% in price last month and increased 6.4% year-over-year. The index for lumber and plywood decreased 0.5% in July and fell 7.7% over 12 months. Copper and brass mill shapes fell 9.7% for the month and 7.9% over the past year.

In addition, construction firms added 32,000 jobs in July as the sector’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, and the number of unfilled construction positions approaches record levels.

Related Topics: Associated General Contractors of America