Gypsum Prices Decreased Again

In February, prices paid for gypsum products decreased a seasonally adjusted 5.1 percent, continuing the overall downward trend since August 2018, per the latest BLS data.

Since the start of 2018, gypsum prices paid have dropped 8.6 percent, and 9.8 percent since August 2018. Prices have decreased month over month every month except from November 2018 to December 2018. Overall, prices paid for residential construction materials grew 0.8 percent in February 2019, the first uptick in five months, though not seasonally adjusted, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Diesel fuel prices rose 7.2 percent in February, snapping a two-month trend during which prices fell 30.0 percent. Prices remain much lower than their most recent peak, but transmission to building materials prices (if any) by means of lower freight costs is unlikely to be seen in the data until March. Prices paid for ready-mix concrete decreased 0.5 percent. The current index reading of 271.4 is its lowest since April 2018.

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