Cement Prices
Cement prices showed no change in December, following a 0.1% decrease in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index. Annual escalation for the index sits at 8.3%, down from 8.7% the previous month. ENR’s 20-city average monthly price for masonry cement
declined 3.4% in February, while yearly prices decreased 1.1%. All types of ready-mix concrete and all types of concrete block experienced yearly
increases in February. Prices for portland cement rose 4.5% since January, while yearly prices have increased 27.5 %.
PVC Pipe Prices
Prices for PVC pipe products fell 0.4% in December, after rising 0.2% in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index for plastic construction products, which consists largely of PVC pipe. The annual escalation sits at –3.2%, down from –3% the previous month. ENR’s 20-city average price for both types of copper water tubing experienced yearly increases in February. Monthly prices for 6-in. ductile-iron pipe rose 0.9%, while yearly prices increased 24.3%.
Plywood Prices
Plywood prices decreased 0.2% in December, following a decrease of 1.3% in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index. The annual index sits at -3.8%. Prices for pine 2x4s are down 15.6% from February 2023’s level, while monthly prices showed no change, according to ENR’s data. ENR’s 20-city average monthly price for plyform fell 2% in February, while yearly prices experienced a 3.6% increase.
Aluminum Sheet Prices
The price for aluminum sheet rose 0.1% in December, after staying flat in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index. The annual index sits at -3.6%, down from -2.2% the previous month. ENR’s 20-city average monthly price for reinforcing bars fell 0.6% in February, with yearly prices increasing 15.9%. Both types of stainless-steel plate experienced yearly increases in February, according to ENR’s data. Prices for all types of stainless-steel sheet experienced both yearly and monthly declines in February.
* Data provided by ENR.com.