FM COST TRENDS
Construction Material Costs Are Mixed
Commercial construction is showing gains in the 5-8% range, with hotels and offices leading the way. Overall, prices for
construction materials seem to reflect a more stable domestic
market less influenced by foreign markets. Among the major
components, lumber and concrete are up while steel and pipe
products (plastic and copper) are weak. Lumber’s increases are
slowing down and headed toward a 3-4% increase for the year.
Prices for adhesives and sealants have traded in a narrow
range. They are down for the current quarter. They seem to have a
relationship to the price of oil, which is also down for this quarter.
After dramatic gains last year, the price of wood siding has
moderated, with gains in the 2-3% range. It seems to be mirroring
the lumber industry as a whole, and following last year’s gain of
20%, wood siding is now in line with other lumber products.
After being up in 2013, fiber optic cable has been flat for the
last 24 months. Since its peak in 2004, optic cable has decreased
in price by almost 12% and no change is apparent on the horizon.
This year, optic cable has shown a decrease of 1%. Granite seems
to be languishing and shows no gains in spite of a recovering
housing industry. Last year it began a substantial drive upward
only to sputter in Q1 of this year. It recovered in Q2, but has
remained flat since.
Vinyl floor covering remains flat despite major fluctuations in
the price of petroleum over the last two years.
For more facilities cost data, visit the BUILDINGS bookstore at www.bnibuildings.com.
Additional building case studies are available at DCD.com
NOTE: ALL DATA IS BASED ON INDICES RATHER THAN UNIT OR QUANTITY PRICES.
SOURCE: U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, PRODUCER PRICE INDEX
220
215
210
205
200
195
190
185
180
175
170
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
270
260
250
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
ADHESIVES AND SEALANTS
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
WOOD SIDING
69
67
65
63
61
59
57
55
FIBER OPTIC CABLE
149
147
145
143
141
139
137
135
GRANITE
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
160
VINYL FLOOR COVERING
2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015 2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015
2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015 2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015
2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015 2010 2011 2013 2014 2012 2015