Monthly Construction Input Prices Drop in March, Says ABC
WASHINGTON, April 9—Construction input prices fell 1% in March from the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. The aggregate price of inputs to construction is down 1.9% compared to the same time last year. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 1.1% for the month and 2% during the past year.
Among 11 construction input subcategories, six experienced year-over-year price decreases. Prices fell in all three energy-related subcategories in March, with crude petroleum down 34.6%, unprocessed energy materials down 19.1% and natural gas down 1.5%. Softwood lumber experienced the largest monthly increase, 4.6%.
“Deflationary pressures are weighing on economies around the world during this period of pandemic,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Demand for various items has dried up as much of the global economy remains in a period of suspended animation.
“Though fragmenting supply chains are also creating shortages for a number of inputs, many producers still have an incentive to deliver what they can to the marketplace in order to maintain some degree of cashflow,” said Basu. “Accordingly, there has been more downward pressure on prices from weak demand than upward pressure from interrupted production.
“Deflationary pressures are likely to persist into the summer,” said Basu. “That said, there may come a time during the third and fourth quarters of the current year when input prices begin to surge higher as construction projects come back to life in larger numbers during a period of flattened construction input inventories and lingering global supply chain issues. This has the potential to render circumstances for cash-strapped contractors even more dire. But for now, that scenario is highly speculative.”
Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator, Construction Confidence Index and state unemployment reports, plus analysis of spending, employment, GDP and the Producer Price Index.
Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 21,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.
Contact:
Rachel O'Grady, ABC, (202) 905-2104, ogrady@abc.org
