Materials Prices Increase 20 Percent Between January 2021 and January 2022

Prices of construction materials increased more than 20 percent from January 2021 to January 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released February 15. The association recently posted a new editionĀ of itsĀ Construction Inflation Alert, a report to inform project owners, officials, and others about the challenges volatile materials costs, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages posed for construction firms.

ā€œUnfortunately, there has been no letup early this year in the extreme cost runup that contractors endured in 2021,ā€ said Ken Simonson, the associationā€™s chief economist. ā€œThey are apparently passing on more of those costs but will have a continuing challenge in getting timely deliveries and finding enough workers.ā€

The producer price index for inputs to new nonresidential construction ā€“ the prices charged by goods producers and service providers such as distributors and transportation firms ā€“ increased by 2.6 percent from December to January and 20.3 percent over the past 12 months. In comparison, the index for new nonresidential construction ā€“ a measure of what contractors say they would charge to erect five types of nonresidential buildings ā€“ climbed by 3.8 percent for the month and 16.5 percent from a year earlier.

A wide range of inputs contributed to the more than 20 percent jump in the cost index, Simonson noted.

  • The price index for steel mill products soared 112.7 percent over 12 months despite declining 1.6 percent in January.
  • The index for plastic construction products climbed 1.8 percent for the month and 35.0 percent over 12 months.
  • The index for diesel fuel jumped 5.1 percent in January and 56.5 percent for the year.
  • The index for aluminum mill shapes jumped 5.6 percent in January and 32.7 percent over 12 months, while the index for copper and brass mill shapes rose 4.1 percent in January and 24.8 percent over the year.
  • Architectural coatings such as paint had an unusually large price gain of 9.0 percent in January and 24.3 percent over 12 months.
  • The index for lumber and plywood leaped 15.4 percent for the month and 21.1 percent year-over-year.
  • Other inputs with double-digit increases for the past 12 months include roofing asphalt products, 19.8 percent; insulation, 19.2 percent; trucking, 18.3 percent; and construction machinery and equipment, 11.4 percent.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.