The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) just released the May 2017 numbers for their Producer Price Index (PPI). Once again, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), has done a great job compiling the construction price and cost indexes into a summary table with accompanying explanation guide.
This is an excellent tool to look at overall construction prices, both current values and historic activity.
For May 2017, the construction final demand PPI (not seasonally adjusted) increased 0.1% over April 2017, and 1.0% from May 2016. The PPI for inputs to construction industry goods was flat on a monthly basis, but increased 3.4% from last year.
Concrete block, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete products, flat glass, and gypsum products all saw yearly increases, with only paving mixtures down. Gypsum products had the biggest increase from last year (7.4%).
Monthly, all these input materials remained relatively flat. See table below with main figures:
While it is great to understand what prices are doing historically, we have taken a stab at predicting how prices will change in 2017. Download our 2017 Construction Materials Industry Forecast Infographic for more information.
