SKOKIE, Ill.— Concrete prices in May remained nearly flat for the second straight month with a modest 0.1 percent gain, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index.

Steel and asphalt  declined, 1.3 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, but remain at high levels with steel prices increasing 13.9 percent during the past year. Asphalt prices rose 11.2 percent in the last 12 months.

Concrete prices have changed at a slower rate, with a 4.5 percent increase since May 2006..

Lumber prices continued to decline with a 12.5 percent negative change from 2006.

According to the spring PCA Cement and Construction Forecast, the relative price improvements of concrete compared to other materials that materialized during the fourth quarter of 2006 and has continued through recent data collections, will increase national cement intensity in 2007. Cement intensity refers to the tons of cement per dollar of construction activity.

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics information is provided by PCA to aid in the promotion of concrete and cement-based products.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

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Editor’s Note:  For more information on PCA Market Research Reports or the Producer Price Index, contact Craig Schulz, director of market research; for additional information on PCA’s Economic Forecasts, contact PCA Chief Economist, Ed Sullivan.