Washington,D.C. – Prices for construction materials and supplies were up 1.3 percent in January, according to the February 18 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. Year-over-year, construction materials prices are up 1.6 percent.

Iron and steel prices jumped 4.7 percent for the month and are up 5.9 percent since last January, the first year-over-year increase since November 2008. Nonferrous wire and cable prices went up 0.7 percent since December and are up 25.1 percent since January 2009. Prices for softwood lumber increased 0.6 percent last month and are up 8.0 percent since the same time last year.

Prices for plumbing fixtures and fittings had a slight increase of 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis and are up 1.1 percent since January 2009. Fabricated structural metal products prices also had little change as they increased 0.2 percent for the month, but are still down 7.1 percent from prices one year ago. Prepared asphalt, tar roofing, and siding prices slid 2.0 percent for the month after a 5.2 percent increase in December. Year-over-year, prices are down 5.0 percent.

Crude energy prices surged 16.8 percent in January as prices for natural gas jumped 25.5 percent. Overall, the nation’s wholesale prices increased 1.4 percent since December and are up 4.6 percent since January 2009.