The cost of these 5 construction materials grew the most in 2023

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The cost of these 5 construction materials grew the most in 2023

Workers stand on scaffolding in a construction site with an orange sunset in the background.

After three years of intense growth, costs for some construction materials have begun to normalize—but other materials and equipment are becoming more expensive.

Machinery Partner used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to identify which construction materials underwent the steepest price increases over the past year. The analysis considered 30 products from the BLS Producer Price Index.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 39.6% spike in overall input construction costs since February 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of BLS PPI data. Work stoppages, raw materials shortages, and transportation issues at the height of the pandemic caused supply chain collapses that drove up prices for builders.

As some supply issues have improved, prices have cooled. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 1.1% over the past year, according to an ABC analysis. However, many individual commodities are increasing in price, particularly heavy materials that are more expensive to transport, according to construction cost data provider Gordian.

High construction prices, higher mortgage interest rates, and higher labor costs have led to a 17% drop in the construction of new single-family homes despite consistent demand.

Construction projects centered on infrastructure are better positioned as government money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act comes online. However, the law’s “Build America, Buy America” clause requires builders to use American-made iron, steel, and other construction materials for these infrastructure projects. Certain experts and contractor groups fear these infrastructure rules may cause prices to increase even more. The transition to greener buildings also creates more demand—and therefore increases prices—for materials used in more energy-efficient construction.

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Concrete and machinery among highest cost increases

A bar chart showing the year-over-year change among the five construction materials that have grown most.

Inflation has contributed to increased prices for many construction materials, including clay products, per LBM Journal. More megaprojects, including two manufacturing plants in Georgia totaling $6.7 billion, also create more demand, causing price increases.

Higher transportation costs aren’t the only element plaguing concrete prices. Its production is a big culprit in carbon emissions, and the drive to have more sustainable building materials adds to concrete’s price tag, according to Gordian. New product development is also impacting prices—new formulations now on the market cost more to create.

Meanwhile, long lead times for machinery and equipment have made it difficult for construction companies to take on infrastructure projects at a time when the government has increased infrastructure spending. Even companies with the right machinery find it costs more to operate due to the higher cost of diesel fuel, per Gordian.

The construction industry also faces pressure due to a highly competitive labor market forcing companies to pay higher wages. Labor costs are up 5.5% year over year, while average wages have increased about 17% since the beginning of the pandemic as companies struggled to attract enough workers. A lack of labor could force companies to delay project starts, making them susceptible to increased materials costs.

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story originally appeared on Machinery Partner and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.