Category: Building Materials

Residential building material growth price continued to rise at the end of 2025, despite a softer new home construction market. The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that price growth for residential construction inputs remained higher than 3% since June, indicating persistent cost pressures for both builders and developers.  Building material prices have seen the largest annual increase since early 2023, now up 3.5% year over year. Metal particularly stands out, with metal and trim prices having surged nearly 50% compared to…

The outlook for lumber production and pricing in 2026 is still debated by many in the industry. 2025 saw multiple headwinds in the industry, with battling trade policy and uncertainty.  Despite a near 45% import duty for Canadian product, the reported lumber prices from December 2025 is relatively low. “Waning housing production over the course of 2025 created an environment where lumber supply was continually above demand, especially over the second half of the year,” said Jesse Wade,NAHB director of tax and trade policy analysis. “In 2026, depending on housing…

According to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential building material prices continued to show growth. Price growth averages above 3.0%, despite concerns in the remodeling and new residential construction market. Across building materials, metal products experienced price increases. However, ready-mix concrete and softwood lumber declined throughout 2025. “The largest year-over-year price increases continue to show in metal products. Topping the list in November was metal molding and trim, with prices up 48.2% from last year. Two key inputs, ready-mix concrete and softwood lumber,…

Revolutionizing concrete is a continued effort from innovators and they just reached a breakthrough. Researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) developed a new carbon-negative building material that is groundbreaking in sustainable construction. Nima Rahbar is the Ralph H. White Family Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. Under his guidance, the team created  a enzymatic structural material (ESM) by harnessing an enzyme that converts carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles. Then the particles are bonded together and cured under gentle conditions, faster than…

Projected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, the White House announced the delay of tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets. In October, the White House imposed a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets, furniture and vanities with a planned increase in January of furniture to 30%  and  50% of kitchen cabinet and vanity levies.  By invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Act) this move extends potential increases in tariffs for upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for another year. A White House fact sheet stated, “The…