Construction material prices dropping - until end of year
According to Reed Construction Data, the construction material price index dropped 1.4% in September, the first significant decline in the past three years, and prices are expected to continue to decline through the end of 2006. Building Design & Construction reported that a sharp drop in crude oil prices and less demand from international markets and homebuilders led manufacturers and distributors to discount their prices on unexpected surplus inventory. But the price index is expected to rise in early 2007, when inventories have been cleared.
