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The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials edged down 0.2 percent in December but climbed 5.3 percent from a year earlier, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by �鶹��Ƶ. Meanwhile, the amount contractors charge to construct projects remained largely flat for the month and is up only between 3.3 and 4.7 percent for the year, cutting into contractor earnings and adding to the challenges the hard-hit industry is facing, �鶹��Ƶ officials said.

The unemployment rate for construction workers in December was 16 percent, not seasonally adjusted, nearly double the rate for all workers. Yet the number of unemployed construction workers has fallen to the point that some companies may soon have trouble attracting the particular workers they need. How can this be?

Construction employment increased in December by 17,000 driven by gains in nonresidential construction employment, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by �鶹��Ƶ.

Construction employment declined in 146 out of 337 metropolitan areas between November 2010 and November 2011, increased in 131 and stayed level in 60, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by �鶹��Ƶ.

Construction employment rose in only 19 states and the District of Columbia in November, a weaker showing than in recent months, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by �鶹��Ƶ .  In contrast, 25 states plus D.C. added jobs on a year-over-year basis, while 24 states shed construction jobs.

The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials edged down 0.1 percent in November but climbed 6.2 percent from a year earlier, outstripping the increase in contractors’ bid prices for finished buildings, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by �鶹��Ƶ. Officials with the construction association warned that the cost squeeze on contractors, combined with declining public sector investments in construction, may drive many contractors out of business.

Construction employment declined in 146 out of 337 metropolitan areas between October 2010 and October 2011, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by �鶹��Ƶ. 

Construction employment shrank for the second straight month in November as residential, nonresidential building and heavy construction segments remained in low gear, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by �鶹��Ƶ.  Association officials said the employment drop reflects continued declines in public sector investments.  They added that construction employment could benefit from increased transportation investments and other pro-growth measures designed to boost private sector demand.

Construction spending increased for the third straight month in October as private activity strengthened while public spending shrank, �鶹��Ƶ reported today in an analysis of new Census Bureau data.  �鶹��Ƶ officials cautioned that further declines in public sector activity may soon swamp gains in homebuilding and private nonresidential investment.

One of the biggest challenges in construction (and economics!) is figuring out where prices will be a year—or even a day—from now. While all businesses share this problem to some degree, it is much more acute in construction, because contractors typical provide owners a guaranteed price months or years before they buy materials. Also, contractors have virtually no ability to substitute materials or change quantities once the design is complete. Adding another layer of difficulty, construction depends on delivery of heavy, bulky items for which rising diesel prices can push up delivered price even if the production cost stays flat.From October 2010 to October 2011, the producer price index (PPI) for material inputs to construction—a weighted average of all goods used in every type of construction, plus items such as diesel fuel that are consumed by contractors—rose 6.9 percent. That was better than the 8.9 percent year-over-year increase recorded in July but far more than the 3.5 percent increase in the consumer price index, rate most people think of as “the” inflation rate.Will construction costs continue to moderate or will they accelerate again? The answer varies by material. Items that are globally traded, or ones that use raw materials in limited supply and in demand from other countries, are at the greatest risk of price spikes. These include diesel fuel, steel, copper and aluminum. Items that are produced from domestic raw materials, for which U.S. construction is the major or principal customer, are more likely to stay flat in price as long as domestic demand is weak.Nevertheless, U.S. suppliers can sometimes ratchet down production enough to impose price increases. Case in point: gypsum makers announced in September that they would raise wallboard and other gypsum prices 35 percent as of January 1. In addition, “The three major producers of portland cement in the southeast announced they will increase prices in March or April,” New South Construction Supply e-News (jim.sobeck@newsouthsupply.com) reported on November 22. “As a result, most manufacturers of products which contain portland cement (mortar mix, concrete patching and repair, self leveling underlayments and overlayments, stucco, etc) have indicated they will increase prices in the second quarter of 2012.”Meanwhile, copper futures prices have fallen by roughly 25 percent from their all-time high last February. Steel and diesel prices have also drifted downward since peaking last spring, although diesel has moved up again recently along with crude oil prices.By the end of 2011, it appears the PPI for materials will wind up 5 to 6 percent higher than a year ago—similar to the 5.3 percent increase from December 2009 to December 2010. It is early for a prediction about 2012 prices, but it seems unlikely the threatened gypsum or cement increases will stick in full, unless construction demand suddenly soars. On the other hand, copper could shoot up at any time. A 5 percent year-over-year increase would be in line with the past eight years. But in any one month, the year-over-year change is likely to vary from that average by as much as four percentage points either way.