Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Prices rose across goods and services used in residential construction in April due to rising energy and transportation service prices, according to NAHB’s Eye on Housing. Building material prices, excluding energy, rose at their highest yearly rate in three years, up 3.7% from a year ago.
The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 1.4% in April after rising 0.7% in March. Compared to a year ago, final demand prices were up 6%. The index for final demand services rose 1.2% in April, while the index for final demand goods rose 2.0% over the month.
The price index for inputs to new residential construction rose 1.3% in April and was up 5.9% from last year. The price of goods used in new residential construction was up 1.2% over the month and up 6.1% from last year, while the price services was up 1.3% over the month and up 3.7% from last year.
Input Goods
On a monthly basis, the price of input goods to new residential construction was up 1.2% in April. Breaking down the input goods to residential construction index into two separate components—one measuring energy inputs with the other measuring remaining goods—the latter makes up around 93% of the goods index.
Energy input prices rose 13.8% in April and were 39.4% higher than a year ago. Building material prices were up 0.1% in April and up 3.7% compared to one year ago. Building material prices have continued to grow above 3% since July of last year.
No. 2 diesel fuel saw the largest year-over-year increase with prices that were 74.4% higher than a year ago. Asphalt prices rose 18% over April 2025 after declining in March. Softwood lumber prices were up 1.1% in April after declining on a yearly basis for several months. Fewer materials showed yearly price declines than in March. Particleboard and fiberboard prices were down 12.0%, while softwood veneer/plywood prices were down 1.7%.
