b'Construction input prices stay flat, but broader inflation jumps Novembers data indicates stability in overall costs, but close analysis reveals mixed pressures forcontractors, according to construction economists.Dive Brief: Construction input prices remained prices and obscures price escalation that hasunchanged in November, with nonresidentialoccurred for specific materials. Prices for copper wire construction input prices ticking up just 0.1%and cable and softwood lumber, for instance, are up over the past month, according to an analysis bynearly 12% year over year. nearly 12% year over Associated Builders and Contractors.year.Though overall input prices sit about 0.5% higher than a year ago, certain materials Costs for copper and brass mill shapes jumped about continue to see significant increases, according15% over the past year, whereas aluminum mill shapes to the report.increased 7.4%, said Macrina Wilkins, senior research The flat monthly input prices come amid analyst with the Associated General Contractors of reaccelerating inflation in the broader economy,America, in an email to Construction Dive. Those rises as the Consumer Price Index has increased 2.7%align with the broader increases Basu noted. for the year, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist. While thats above the Federal While input prices have, in total, been well behaved, Reserves 2% inflation target, he added yesterdays Consumer Price Index release indicated contractors remain optimistic about the next sixthat economywide inflation reaccelerated inmonths, with more than 60% expecting salesNovember, said Basu. The recent uptick suggests growth.that inflation may prove more stubborn than previously Dive Insight:expected. The no change suggests ongoing stability in overall construction input prices, but close analysis reveals mixed pressures for contractors, said Basu.For example, much of that price stabilization stemsSebastian Obando from a reduction in energy costs, as opposed to Reporterspecific construction materials. Natural gas prices decreased 17.3% year over year and unprocessed energy materials dropped 11.9% during the same period. Construction input prices are up just 0.2% through the first 11 months of 2024, said Basu in therelease. However, that encouraging year-to-date price growth primarily reflects declining energy8'