US Building Material Prices Rise 4.2% Year-Over-Year in November

A closer look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for November 2025, with analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), shows that prices for inputs to new residential construction—excluding capital investment, labor, and imports—rose 0.1%.

Year-over-year, the index was up 4.2%, with price growth remaining above 3% since June despite weakness in new residential construction.

NAHB highlighted that metal products continued to post the largest annual price increases. Prices for metal molding and trim surged 48.2% from a year earlier, leading all tracked inputs.

By contrast, two key materials posted year-over-year declines. Ready-mix concrete prices fell 0.7% from a year earlier, which NAHB attributed in part to stagnation in construction spending. Softwood lumber prices were down 8.0% year-over-year in November as prices remained low.

The goods component of inputs to residential construction rose 0.4% month-over-month and was up 3.4% from a year earlier. Service inputs declined 0.4% over the month but were 5.5% higher than a year ago.