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From the August 14, 2006 issue of ENR
Lumber, Plywood Prices Cool But Remain High
(Photo courtesy of Timothy Grogan for ENR)
Along decline in lumber prices was checked by a modest 0.8% increase in August for prices of the most commonly used species of 2 X 4s. This month’s rebound left prices 10% below a year ago. Plywood prices are down 1.2% from 2005, after a year-to-year decline of 4% in August of last year. Despite the back-to-back annual declines, plywood prices are still stuck at historically high levels after steep increases in 2003 and 2002. Plywood prices remain 28% above August 2003’s level.
Click here to read the entire Construction Economics section, with all data from the August 14, 2006 issue, in PDF format.
Construction Cost Index
The CCI Increased 0.3% this month based entirely on higher material prices, as the labor held steady.
20-CITY: 1913 = 100 August 2006 Index Value
% change
Month
% change
Year
CONSTRUCTION COST
7722.66
+0.3
+3.3
COMMON LABOR
16065.00
+0.0
+2.6
WAGE $/HR.
30.52
+0.1
+2.3
Building Cost Index
The BCI’s year-to-year increase slipped from 3.8% last month to 3.6%, with labor and materials costs rising just 0.1%
20-CITY: 1913 = 100 August 2006 Index Value % change Month % change Year
BUILDING COST 4359.86 +0.1 +3.6
SKILLED LABOR 7224.86 +0.1 +2.3
WAGE $/HR. 40.10 +0.1 +2.3
Materials Cost Index
Higher steel prices accounted for all of this month’s gain in the MCI, as both cement and lumber prices declined.
20-CITY: 1913 = 100 August 2006 Index Value % change Month % change Year
MATERIALS 2609.61 +0.1 +5.8
CEMENT $/TON 92.67 -0.2 +5.5
STEEL $/CWT 38.62 +0.7 +14.2
LUMBER $/MBF 503.60 -1.0 -6.2
