Dive summary:

• Federal data show that overall, construction materials prices held steady from February to March, but Associated Builders and Contractors is warning that steadiness can be as much of a sign of volatility as price jumps in the current environment.
• Holding steady, however, puts prices 0.9% above the March 2012 mark, and changes within the category, like a 4.4% rise in softwood lumber from the month before, stand out.
• Iron and steel products were down 9.4% year to year, while prepared asphalt, tar roofing and siding went up 8.6% in the same 12 months.

From the article:

"On the surface, it appears construction materials prices were well behaved in March," said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "However, ABC has been warning for several months about materials cost volatility due to a variety of forces...."