Tariffs Drive Surge in March Construction Materials Prices

Construction input prices increased 0.5% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. government data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.6% for the month. “Construction input prices increased at a rapid pace for the third consecutive month in March and have now risen at a 9.7% annualized rate through the first quarter of 2025,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The emerging effects of tariffs are glaring in the March data release, with iron and steel, steel mill products and copper wire and cable prices all rising more than 5% for the month." (Read More at ABC.org)