Tag Archive for ‘lumber prices’

Building Materials Prices Remain Stable but Diesel Skyrockets 40% in August

According to the latest Producer Price Index report, the price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) ticked up 0.1% in August (not seasonally adjusted).  Prices have also increased 0.2% over the past 12 months as year-over-year price growth has slowed from 4.9% in January 2023 and 14.7% in August 2022. The 12-month increase is the smallest… Read More ›

Building Materials Prices Increase in July as Concrete Surges

The prices of building materials rose 0.4% in July (not seasonally adjusted) even as softwood lumber prices increased 2.3%, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report. Prices have surged 35.7% since January 2020, although 80% of the increase has occurred since January 2021. The PPI for goods inputs to residential construction, including energy, decreased 1.2% as the prices of… Read More ›

Since Pandemic Onset, Lumber Products Have Added $14K to House Price, $51 to Rent

Since the relatively low point at the onset of the pandemic on April 17, 2020, lumber prices have been volatile, with record setting spikes interspersed with periods of substantial declines. On balance over the entire period, however, softwood lumber prices have increased enough to add $14,345 to the price of an average new single-family home, and $5,511 to the market… Read More ›

Lumber Prices in 2020 and 2021 Set Record Highs Even When Adjusted for Inflation

Most analyses of lumber price trends and levels fail to account for inflation because the price data for softwood lumber used in framing applications is generally quoted using the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price or lumber futures prices–neither of which is inflation-adjusted. Adjusting for inflation shows that, although the historical price differences are smaller in real terms than nominal,… Read More ›

Building Materials Prices Increase 1.5% in December, Lumber Volatility at 75-Year High

The prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy climbed 1.5% in December (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index was driven higher by large price increases for wood products. Building materials prices increased 15.9% in 2021 and have risen 18.6% since December 2020. Since declining 1.8% between July… Read More ›

Higher Lumber Costs Add More Than $35K to New Home Prices, $119 to Monthly Rent

According to NAHB’s latest estimates, rising softwood lumber prices over the last 12 months have added $35,872 to the price of an average new single-family home, and $12,966 to the market value of an average new multifamily home.  That increase in multifamily value translates to households paying $119 a month more to rent a new apartment. These estimates are based on the softwood lumber used… Read More ›

How Builders Try to Deal with Rising Lumber Prices

As most industry observers know, softwood lumber prices have been extremely high and volatile over the past year.  During an unprecedented four-month surge in 2020 prices nearly doubled, reaching an all-time high in September.  Since then prices have continued to fluctuate, increasing recently to the point that they are now considerably higher than they were even at last September’s historic… Read More ›

Builders Say Lumber Prices Are Hurting Affordability

In a recent NAHB survey, over 40 percent of builders said construction costs in general are causing home buyers to hold back from purchasing a new home, and over 90 percent said that lumber prices specifically are hurting affordability. The results are consistent with yesterday’s post, which described a surge in the number of builders reporting a shortage of framing lumber. The new results… Read More ›