Economist confirms largest construction materials price surge in seven years

Sources: Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Prices for inputs to construction materials expanded 1.3 percent in April and are 6.4 percent higher than at the same time one year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The figures are the largest respective month-over-month and year-over-year increases since 2015 and 2011.

“Inflation is becoming more apparent in virtually every corner of the U.S. economy,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Unemployment recently dipped below 4 percent for the first time since 2000. As of March, there were 6.55 million unfilled job openings and 6.59 million unemployed people. This means that the ratio of unemployed to job openings is roughly 1, implying that wage pressures will continue to build. Initial unemployment claims remain incredibly low while the so-called ‘quits’ ratio is climbing, indicating that more workers feel comfortable quitting their current jobs in pursuit of better ones.

“A number of policies are contributing to inflationary pressures. Shifting immigration policies are one factor, as are proposed tariffs, including on steel and aluminum. During the past year, iron and steel prices are up nearly 11 percent. The price of softwood lumber, which has been at the center of an ongoing trade dispute with Canada, has risen by about 10 percent. Issues revolving around Iran help explain why oil stands at $71/barrel [on May 9]. Recently enacted tax cuts also represent an explanatory factor; improving economic growth helps drive up prices.”

The upshot, adds Basu: “The economy and the nonresidential construction marketplace are presently strong. With the finances of many states and local governments meaningfully improving, including in states as disparate as Connecticut and Utah, the expectation is that infrastructure spending is set to rise. The next two years are shaping up to be solid ones for nonresidential construction firms. However, beyond that, the outlook becomes distinctly murky. Rising inflationary pressures are beginning to translate into higher borrowing costs. The cost of delivering construction services is also on the rise. At some point, this combination of factors will impede further progress, and may ultimately contribute to the end of the current expansion cycle.”