• The prices that contractors said they would charge for various kinds of commercial buildings were up in August between 1.9% and 3.8% from the previous year, but so was the overall index of prices for construction materials, Associated General Contractors calculated.
• Materials that cost more and the change from their level in August 2011 were: diesel fuel, 5.2%; gypsum products, 0.3%; architectural coatings, 11.7 percent year-over-year. And lumber and plywood costs increased by 2.3 percent in August and are up 6.9 percent compared to August 2011.
• Going down last month compared to August 2011 were: copper and brass mill shapes, 14%; steel mill products, 8.2%; aluminum mill shapes, 9.8%.

From the release:

The cost of key construction materials increased in August and year-to-year, resuming a trend that has forced contractors to pay more for materials even as competitive pressures restrain prices for finished projects, according to an analysis of federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. ...