Combining goods and services, the price index for inputs to new residential construction was up by 2.0% in September and 10.3% higher than in 2025. The price of goods used in new residential construction, including energy, increased by 1.8% over the month and increased by 9.7% from last year, while the price of services was up 2.2% over the month and up 11.3% from last year. Prices for service inputs to residential construction rose 2.2% in September. On a year-over-year basis, service input prices were up 11.3%, the highest since…
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Construction material prices increase 2.2% in September
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index released new September data on Oct. 15, 2026. The new data revealed that construction material prices increased 2.2% in September compared to the previous month. “Construction input prices have risen more than 11% over the past 12 months, the largest year-over-year increase in nearly four years,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While higher fuel prices… have driven a substantial portion of the increase, prices for tariffed materials like iron, copper and other…
Read MoreNew member added to NLBMDA Manufacturers and Services Council
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) announced that Canals has joined its Manufacturers and Services Council, a group of leading building material manufacturers and service providers supporting independent LBM dealers. Founded in 2022, Canals provides purpose-built AI technology for the construction supply chain, automating manual workflows in sales, accounting, purchasing and receiving for over 100 distributors. “Joining NLBMDA Manufacturers and Services Council gives Canals an important opportunity to work alongside dealers and industry leaders confronting some of the LBM sector’s most pressing challenges,” said Michael Delgado, CEO…
Read MoreU.S. drops Canadian lumber duties
A major win for contractors and builders under pressure from elevated building material costs, the U.S. Department of Commerce dropped duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports. Announced on Oct. 14, the final determination lowers the combined duty rate from 35.16% to 24.75%. The cumulative duty and tariff burden decreases from 45.16% to 34.75%, as the separate 10% Section 232 tariff remains in effect. “While the reduction represents a positive development for the industry, Canadian softwood lumber continues to face substantial trade barriers,” wrote the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers…
Read MoreFraming lumber prices decrease to $506.76 per 1,000 board feet
According to Madison’s Lumber Price Index, as of Sept. 25, 2026, framing lumber prices decreased to $506.76 per 1,000 board feet, down from the previous week. This price was 1.8% week over week, down 2.8% month over month, but up 4.5% year over year. Softwood lumber prices have been volatile in recent years due to increased demand, rising tariffs, supply-chain bottlenecks and insufficient domestic production. To address the high lumber prices, the National Association of Home Builders has advocated for negotiating a long-term deal with Canada to reduce tariffs and…
Read MoreWood framing continues to dominate single-family construction
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ analysis of 2025 Census Bureau data, in 2025, wood framing accounted for 94% of all completed single-family homes. Approximately 947,000 wood-framed homes were completed last year, while the wood-framed market share remained unchanged at 94%. Concrete-framed homes represented 5% of completions, while steel-framed homes had a 25% increase from 2025, with 5,000 completions. Non-wood-based framing methods remain concentrated in the South due to residential resiliency requirements. Concrete-framed homes made up 9% of all single-family home completions in the South. Approximately 60% of…
Read MoreNAHB supported Housing Tariff Exclusion Act introduced in House
A new bill introduced in the House by Rep. Nanette Barragán, the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act (H.R. 10416), would create a tariff exemption process for building materials. With building material costs rising, tariffs further strain builder margins and ultimately lead to higher prices for buyers. “This bill would help relieve tariff-driven cost pressures on building materials, provide businesses with greater certainty and support broader efforts to improve housing affordability,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens. The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act would establish a Commerce Department process to request an exception and grant refunds…
Read MoreHow builder size impacts material costs
A majority of builders agree that building a home is 15% more expensive now than it was this time last year. According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builders feel the pain of these increases, but especially the smaller builders. The HMI results aligned with reality, with 28.4% of builders reporting that common material prices increased by 5% to 9.99%. Analysis of July’s PPI indicated that the price of goods increased 6.7% year over year. “Not all builders experienced the…
Read MoreBuilding material prices see growth in July
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Producer Price Index, residential building material prices rose 0.4% in July 2026 and were up 5.0% from last year. The price index for inputs to new residential construction fell 0.1% in July, but was up 6.5% from the year before. The price of goods used in new residential construction, including energy, was up 0.1% over the month and up 6.7% from last year, while the price of services was down 0.3% over the month and up 6.2% from last year. Among…
Read MoreArchitectural details are more popular in exterior remodels
When clients look to remodel, it’s often for two reasons: cosmetic or performance, or more often a mix of both. B&B Siding and Roofing, a contractor serving New Jersey and Staten Island, noticed that today’s modern buyers are prioritizing curb appeal and detail in exterior treatment. Fiber cement siding is a growing choice among clients, noted B&B. This aligns with the National Association of Home Builders’ study on exterior material trends. While vinyl remains the overall pick, fiber cement recorded steady growth from 3.20% to 22.61% over the past 25 years.…
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