Construction Commodity Prices (Sep 2026): Copper, Steel, Lumber, Diesel & More
Construction material prices rose 5.7% in the 12 months to September 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index for materials and components for construction). Copper averaged $6.57/lb in September 2026, and U.S. diesel was $6.276/gal for the week of Oct 19, 2026. Checked daily · last checked Oct 26, 2026. Each commodity links to a page with a chart, the producer price indexes contractors cite in escalation clauses, and the manufacturer price-increase letters tied to it.
Prices and indexes by commodity
Metals are World Bank monthly averages in $ per lb; diesel is the EIA weekly U.S. retail price; the rest are BLS producer price indexes (PPI). Related letters: manufacturer increases and surcharges on file that took effect in the last 12 months.
| Commodity | Benchmark | Latest | 1-month | 12-month | 12-month trend | Related letters, 12 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Copper | $6.57/lb Sep 2026 | +1.0% | +45.0% | 17 | |
| Copper | Copper wire and cable PPI | 607.7 p Sep 2026 | +0.8% | +30.8% | ||
| Aluminum | Aluminum | $1.49/lb Sep 2026 | +1.0% | +23.7% | 34 | |
| Steel | Steel mill products PPI | 388.6 p Sep 2026 | +2.2% | +27.6% | 36 | |
| Steel | Rebar & bar joists (fabricated) PPI | 408.0 p Sep 2026 | +4.9% | +30.0% | ||
| Lumber | Softwood lumber PPI | 288.6 p Sep 2026 | −2.0% | +14.2% | 0 | |
| Lumber | Plywood PPI | 303.7 p Sep 2026 | +1.8% | +12.6% | ||
| Concrete | Ready-mix concrete (U.S.) PPI | 402.8 p Sep 2026 | 0.0% | +2.3% | 3 | |
| Concrete | Cement PPI | 348.6 p Sep 2026 | 0.0% | −1.2% | ||
| Asphalt | Asphalt (at refinery) PPI | 291.5 p Sep 2026 | −2.4% | +17.1% | 41 | |
| Asphalt | Asphalt roofing products PPI | 333.2 p Sep 2026 | −2.0% | +2.7% | ||
| PVC pipe | Plastics pipe PPI | 181.8 p Sep 2026 | −0.4% | +3.7% | 5 | |
| PVC pipe | Thermoplastic resins (incl. PVC) PPI | 278.1 p Sep 2026 | −1.7% | +6.7% | ||
| Drywall | Gypsum building materials PPI | 367.0 p Sep 2026 | 0.0% | −0.4% | 14 | |
| Diesel | U.S. average | $6.276/gal Oct 19 | −3.9% | +73.4% | 28 | |
| Diesel | WTI crude oil | $96.90/bbl Sep 2026 | +17.2% | +52.1% |
Construction materials vs. manufacturer price increases
Lines: BLS producer price indexes for materials and components for construction, and for goods inputs to new construction, rebased to 100 at the start of the period shown. Bars: manufacturer price increases on file taking effect that month (right axis; PriceLetter tracks letters from December 2024).
Producer price indexes for escalation clauses
Every BLS series PriceLetter tracks, with its series ID. Escalation clauses usually name one of these and adjust the contract price by the change between two months.
| Series | Latest | 1-month | 12-month | 3-year | Source / series ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper wire and cable | 607.7 p September 2026 | +0.8% | +30.8% | +59.4% | WPU10260314 |
| Copper and brass mill shapes | 835.3 p September 2026 | +1.4% | +30.0% | +45.6% | WPU102502 |
| Copper and copper alloy pipe and tube | 406.2 April 2026 | 0.0% | – | +9.1% | WPU10250239 |
| Copper base scrap | 1005.9 p September 2026 | +0.9% | +48.3% | +67.9% | WPU102301 |
| Steel mill products | 388.6 p September 2026 | +2.2% | +27.6% | +24.7% | WPU1017 |
| Iron and steel | 383.3 p September 2026 | +1.5% | +20.7% | +18.4% | WPU101 |
| Hot rolled steel bars, plates, and structural shapes | 319.7 p September 2026 | +3.0% | +15.0% | +10.2% | WPU101704 |
| Fabricated structural metal bar joists and concrete reinforcing bars | 408.0 p September 2026 | +4.9% | +30.0% | +12.9% | WPU1074051 |
| Iron and steel scrap | 581.0 p September 2026 | −0.3% | +10.2% | +6.1% | WPU1012 |
| Aluminum mill shapes | 370.5 p September 2026 | −0.1% | +25.2% | +61.9% | WPU102501 |
| Softwood lumber | 288.6 p September 2026 | −2.0% | +14.2% | +10.1% | WPU0811 |
| Lumber | 282.3 p September 2026 | −1.4% | +8.7% | +10.1% | WPU081 |
| Plywood | 303.7 p September 2026 | +1.8% | +12.6% | +7.9% | WPU083 |
| Softwood plywood products: rough, sanded, and specialties | 202.0 p September 2026 | +2.3% | +21.4% | +5.6% | WPU083103035 |
| Reconstituted wood product manufacturing | 228.1 p September 2026 | +3.3% | +8.0% | −34.1% | PCU321219321219 |
| Thermoplastic resins and plastics materials | 278.1 p September 2026 | −1.7% | +6.7% | +3.6% | WPU0662 |
| Plastics pipe | 181.8 p September 2026 | −0.4% | +3.7% | −6.9% | WPU07210603 |
| Plastics pipe fittings and unions | 355.1 p September 2026 | +0.3% | +7.9% | +12.1% | WPU07210604 |
| No. 2 diesel fuel | 675.6 p September 2026 | +24.2% | +115.2% | +51.2% | WPU057303 |
| Asphalt | 291.5 p September 2026 | −2.4% | +17.1% | +9.7% | WPU058102 |
| Asphalt paving mixtures & blocks | 441.5 p September 2026 | +0.1% | +7.8% | +12.2% | PCU3241213241210 |
| Prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products | 333.2 p September 2026 | −2.0% | +2.7% | +6.1% | WPU13610131 |
| Cement, hydraulic | 348.6 p September 2026 | 0.0% | −1.2% | +5.8% | WPU13220161 |
| Ready-mix concrete manufacturing | 402.8 p September 2026 | 0.0% | +2.3% | +6.5% | PCU327320327320 |
| Northeast region ready-mix concrete | 180.1 p September 2026 | 0.0% | +3.5% | +6.7% | PCU327320327320A |
| Midwest region ready-mix concrete | 187.2 p September 2026 | +0.4% | +4.0% | +8.8% | PCU327320327320B |
| South region ready-mix concrete | 177.2 p September 2026 | −0.1% | +1.2% | +5.6% | PCU327320327320C |
| West region ready-mix concrete | 185.3 p September 2026 | −0.2% | +2.2% | +5.4% | PCU327320327320D |
| Gypsum building materials | 367.0 p September 2026 | 0.0% | −0.4% | +5.2% | WPU13710102 |
| Materials and components for construction | 385.0 p September 2026 | +0.4% | +5.7% | +9.3% | WPUID612 |
| Inputs to new construction, goods | 365.5 p September 2026 | +2.1% | +10.7% | +12.5% | WPUIP2310001 |
| Construction materials | 378.6 p September 2026 | +0.7% | +11.0% | +14.0% | WPUSI012011 |
Sources: Metal and crude oil prices: World Bank, Commodity Price Data (the “Pink Sheet”), monthly averages, licensed under CC BY 4.0; metals converted from $ per metric ton to $ per lb by PriceLetter. Diesel: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail on-highway No. 2 diesel prices (taxes included). Producer price indexes: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, not seasonally adjusted; values marked p are preliminary and BLS revises them for four months. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov. Checked daily; last checked Oct 26, 2026. Index changes are not the price any one supplier charges you; confirm prices with your supplier.