US lumber prices normalised in December despite constant volatility

Posted on December 19, 2022   |  

In November, building materials prices fell by 0.3% following 0.5% and 0.1% declines in September and October, respectively, the index has declined 5 of 6 months for the 1st time since 2015.

The PPI for goods inputs to residential construction, including energy, fell by 0.8%, leading lower by a 5.3% drop in energy input prices.

However, the price index of services inputs to residential construction grew by 0.6% in November due to large increases in the price of financial and real estate services. 

The PPI for softwood lumber fell by 0.1%, the 4th straight monthly decline and 7th decrease in the past 8 months, and since March, softwood lumber prices dropped by 42.2%.